tak-491 and Insulin-Resistance

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are used widely for the treatment of heart failure. However, their use in obese and insulin-resistant patients remains controversial. To clarify their potential efficacy in these conditions, we administered azilsartan medoxomil (azilsartan), a prodrug of an angiotensin II receptor blocker to mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) with left ventricular (LV) pressure overload (aortic banding). LV fibrosis (hydroxyproline), cardiac plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1; a marker of profibrosis), and creatine kinase (a marker of myocardial viability and energetics) were assessed. LV wall thickness and cardiac function were assessed echocardiographically. Mice given a HFD were obese and insulin resistant. Their LV hypertrophy was accompanied by greater LV PAI-1 and reduced LV creatine kinase compared with normal diet controls. Drug treatment reduced LV wall thickness, hypertrophy, and PAI-1 and increased cardiac output after aortic banding compared with results in HFD vehicle controls. Thus, azilsartan exerted favorable biological effects on the hearts of obese insulin-resistant mice subjected to LV pressure overload consistent with its potential utility in patients with analogous conditions.

Topics: Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Animals; Benzimidazoles; Cardiac Output; Creatine Kinase; Diet, High-Fat; Echocardiography; Heart Ventricles; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular; Insulin Resistance; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Obesity; Oxadiazoles; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; Ventricular Pressure

Topics: Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Animals; Benzimidazoles; Insulin Resistance; Male; Obesity; Oxadiazoles