This study aims to investigate the expression of retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and the activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in diabetic rats with atherosclerosis, and to evaluate the intervention effect of pioglitazone. A total of 75 Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: Normal control (NC), diabetic rats (DM1), diabetic rats with atherosclerosis (DM2) and diabetic rats treated with pioglitazone (DM + Pio). The activity of NF-κB, the levels of serum and adipose tissue RBP4, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides (TG) and arteria caudilis systolic blood pressure (SBP) were measured. Percentage of fat mass (PFM), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated. Compared with the NC and DM + Pio groups, all the parameters mentioned above increased significantly in the DM1 and DM2 groups, with the exception that HDL-c decreased. Pearson analysis showed that RBP4 in serum and adipose tissue were positively associated with TG, LDL-c, FINS, PFM, AIP, HOMA-IR, NF-κB, SBP and negatively associated with HDL-c. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that serum RBP4 and TG were predictors for the presence of diabetic atherosclerosis. In conclusion, RBP4 may be an effective predictor for diabetic atherosclerosis; pioglitazone is able to decrease RBP4 and NF-κB, which may partly contribute to its protective effect against diabetic atherosclerosis.
Keywords: diabetic atherosclerosis; nuclear factor-κB; pioglitazone; retinol binding protein 4.