PPAR-α Agonist Fenofibrate Decreased RANTES Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia

Background: Regulated upon activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) is associated with inflammation and atherosclerosis. We investigated the effect of fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-a (PPAR-alpha) agonist, on RANTES in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Material/Methods: This study evaluated cross-sectional and interventional studies of 25 T2DM patients with hypertriglyceridemia (group A) and 32 controls (group B). Group A was treated with fenofibrate (200 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Serum RANTES and clinical characteristics were examined. Results: Serum RANTES was significantly higher in group A compared with group B (59.04 +/- 16.74 vs. 38.57 +/- 12.98 ng/ml, P<0.001) and correlated with triglycerides (TG) (r=0.535, P<0.001), fasting blood glucose (FBG) (r=0.485, P<0.001), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r=0.485, P<0.001), homocysteine (Hcy) (r=0.520, P<0.001), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (r=0.701, P<0.001). In multiple regression analysis after controlling for confounders, increased hsCRP levels (beta=7.430, P<0.001) and T2DM with hypertriglyceridemia (beta=11.496, P=0.002) were independently related to high serum RANTES levels. After 8 weeks of fenofibrate treatment, serum RANTES significantly decreased in group A compared with baseline (52.75 +/- 17.41 vs. 59.04 +/- 16.74 ng/ml, P=0.018). Conclusions: Fenofibrate decreased serum RANTES levels in T2DM patients with hypertriglyceridemia, indicating that PPAR-a agonists may play an important role in inhibiting inflammatory responses.