Hypotensive effects of omentin-1 related to increased adiponectin and decreased interleukin-6 in intra-thoracic pericardial adipose tissue.

BACKGROUND

Omentin is an adipokine expressed in visceral adipose tissue (VAT). In vitro studies demonstrated that omentin induces vasorelaxation in isolated rat mesenteric arteries, and in vivo studies showed inhibition of agonist-induced increases in blood pressure, possibly mediated by nitric oxide (NO)-dependent mechanisms.

METHODS

We investigated, in normotensive rats, the effects of subacute omentin-1 administration [8μg/kg, intraperitoneally (ip), once daily for 14 days] on cardiac activity, blood pressure, plasma concentration of l-citrulline (as a marker of NO production from l-arginine), and the gene expression of adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in intra-thoracic pericardial adipose tissue (PAT). Electrocardiography (ECG), heart rate (HR), mean blood pressure (MBP), pulse pressure (PP) were monitored before and after treatment with omentin-1 or vehicle.

RESULTS

With respect to baseline and vehicle, we found a significant decrease of MBP (p<0.005) and PP (p<0.05) after treatment with omentin-1, while ECG and HR were not modified. Omentin-1 significantly increased l-citrulline levels in plasma (p<0.05), and the gene expression of adiponectin in PAT (p<0.05). On the other hand, we found decreased gene expression of IL-6 (p<0.005), while TNF-α mRNA in PAT was not affected.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the hypotensive effects of omentin-1 could be driven by stimulated production of NO in the vascular system, possibly related to increased adiponectin and decreased IL-6 mRNA in PAT.