Effect of enalapril maleate on ghrelin levels in metabolic syndrome in rats

Comparison between aerobic exercise training and enalapril treatment as tools to improve diet-induced metabolic-associated fatty liver disease: Effects on endoplasmic reticulum stress markers

AIMS

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress poses a new pathological mechanism for metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). MAFLD treatment has encompassed renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers and aerobic exercise training, but their association with hepatic ER stress is not well known. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of hepatic RAS modulation by enalapril and/or aerobic exercise training over ER stress in MAFLD caused by a diet-induced obesity model.

MAIN METHODS

C57BL/6 mice were fed a standard-chow (CON, n = 10) or a high-fat (HF, n = 40) diet for 8 weeks. HF group was then randomly divided into: HF (n = 10), HF + Enalapril (EN, n = 10), HF + Aerobic exercise training (AET, n = 10), and HF + Enalapril+Aerobic exercise training (EN + AET, n = 10) for 8 more weeks. Body mass (BM) and glucose profile were evaluated. In the liver, ACE and ACE2 activity, morphology, lipid profile, and protein expression of ER stress and metabolic markers were assessed.

KEY FINDINGS

Both enalapril and aerobic exercise training provided comparable efficacy in improving diet-induced MAFLD through modulation of RAS and ER stress, but the latter was more efficient in improving ER stress, liver damage and metabolism.

SIGNIFICANCE

This is the first study to evaluate pharmacological (enalapril) and non-pharmacological (aerobic exercise training) RAS modulators associated with ER stress in a diet-induced MAFLD model.

Enalapril improves obesity associated liver injury ameliorating systemic metabolic markers by modulating Angiotensin Converting Enzymes ACE/ACE2 expression in high-fat feed mice

Obesity is a chronic disease caused multiple associated factors that results in excessive body fat accumulation. The Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) unbalance is now recognized as a key factor on regulating body energy and metabolism.

AIM

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the Enalapril (ACE inhibitor) effects on the metabolic function and hepatic steatosis of obese mice evaluating Angiotensin Converting Enzymes (ACEs) expression.

METHODS

The experiment was performed using 32 male Swiss mice (8 weeks old) equally and randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8): standard diet (ST), standard diet plus Enalapril (ST + ENAL), hyperlipidic diet (HF) and hyperlipidic diet plus Enalapril (HF + ENAL). Weekly measurements of animal weight and feed consumption were performed. At the end of treatment period a glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin sensitivity test (IST) were performed. Ultrasonography was used to evaluate hepatic and epididymal fat pad. Liver samples were submitted to HE histology and gene expression analyses were performed using Real-Time PCR.

RESULTS

The main results showed a decrease in body weight after treatment with Enalapril, as well as a reduced size of epididymal fat pad (EFP). Hepatic echogenicity and steatosis measurement were lower in the obese groups treated with Enalapril also modulating ACE2/ACE expressions.

CONCLUSIONS

Enalapril use improved metabolism reducing hepatic steatosis, decreasing ACE expression and increasing ACE2 expression.

Fructose Feeding and Hyperuricemia: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

High fructose feeding has been suggested to involve in several features of metabolic syndrome including hyperuricemia (HP). We designed and implemented a study to determine the effect size of fructose intake and the relative risk of HP based on the type of fructose feeding (diet or solution), duration of treatment (2–6, 7–10, and > 10 weeks), and animal race. The required information was accepted from international databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Science Direct, Scopus, and etc., from 2009 until 2019 on the basis of predetermined eligibility criteria. The data selection and extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two researchers. Results were pooled as random effects weighting and reported as standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. Thirty-five studies including 244 rats with fructose consumption were included in the final analysis. The heterogeneity rate of parameters was high (I2 = 81.3%, p < 0.001) and estimated based on; 1) type of fructose feeding (diet; I2 = 79.3%, solution 10%; I2 = 83.4%, solution 20%; I2 = 81.3%), 2) duration of treatment (2–6 weeks; I2 = 86.8%, 7–10 weeks; I2 = 76.3%, and > 10 weeks; I2 = 82.8%), 3) the animal race (Wistar; I2 = 78.6%, Sprague-Dawley; I2 = 83.9%). Overall, the pooled estimate for the all parameters was significant (p < 0.001). The results of this study indicated that a significant relationship between HP and fructose intake regardless of the treatment duration, animal race, fructose concentration and route of consumption.

Preparation and physicochemical characterization of matrix pellets containing APIs with different solubility via extrusion process

In this study, a multiparticulate matrix system was produced, containing two different active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs): enalapril-maleate and hydrochlorothiazide. The critical control points of the process were investigated by means of factorial design. Beside the generally used microcrystalline cellulose, ethylcellulose was used as matrix former to achieve modified drug release ensured by diffusion. The matrix pellets were made by extrusion-spheronization using a twin-screw extruder. Some pellet properties (aspect ratio, 10% interval fraction, hardness, deformation process) were determined. The aim of our study was to investigate how the two different APIs with different solubility and particle size influence the process. The amount of the granulation liquid plays a key role in the pellet shaping. A higher liquid feed rate is preferred in the pelletization process.