Central angiotensin-(1–7) attenuates hypoglycemia in sepsis-like conditions via reducing systemic and hepatic inflammation

Abstract

Sepsis is understood as the result of initiating systemic inflammation derived from an inadequate host response against pathogens. In its acute phase, sepsis is marked by an exacerbated reaction to infection, tissue damage, organ failure, and metabolic dysfunction. Among these, hypoglycemia, characterized by disorders of the gluconeogenesis pathway, is related to one of the leading causes of mortality in septic patients. Recent research has investigated the involvement of sympathetic efferent neuroimmune pathways during systemic inflammation. These pathways can be stimulated by several centrally administered drugs, including Angiotensin-(1–7) (Ang-(1–7)). Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of central treatment with Ang-(1–7) on hypoglycemia during endotoxemia. For this, male Wistar Hannover rats underwent stereotaxic surgery for intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of Ang-(1–7) and cannulation of the jugular vein for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Our results demonstrate that LPS was capable of inducing hypoglycemia and that prior central treatment with Ang-(1–7) attenuated this effect. Our data also show that Ang-(1–7) reduced plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and nitric oxide, in addition to the decrease and increase of hepatic IL-6 and IL-10 respectively, in animals subjected to systemic inflammation by LPS, resulting in the reduction of systemic and hepatic inflammation, thus attenuating the deleterious effects of LPS on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase protein content. In summary, the data suggest that central treatment with Ang-(1–7) attenuates hypoglycemia induced by endotoxemia, probably through anti-inflammatory action, leading to reestablishing hepatic gluconeogenesis.