Pioglitazone reduces tumor necrosis factor-alpha serum concentration and mRNA expression of adipose tissue in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is an inflammatory cytokine involved in atherogenesis. Adipose tissue is an important source of endogenous TNF-alpha production. Pioglitazone, a member of the thiazolidinediones (TZDs), has anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties, while underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated.

Pioglitazone decreased CD40/CD40L expression on human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein.

Background: The CD40/CD40 ligand pathway mediated inflammatory processes are important in atherogenesis and the formation of the intraplaque lipid pool. We tested the hypothesis that pioglitazone could decrease lectin-like oxLDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) and CD40/CD40L expression on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL).

Methods: HUVECs were incubated with oxLDL for 24h with or without pretreated by pioglitazone.