It is well known that some anti-hypertensive drugs affect insulin sensitivi
ty and that turner necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a mediator of obesi
ty-associated insulin resistance. In this study, rye have investigated the
effect of anti-hypertensive drugs, calcium (Ca) channel blockers (amlodipin
e, manidipine and nicardipine), an alpha(1)-blocker (doxazosin), a beta(1)-
blocker (metoprolol), and a thiazide diuretic (hydrochlorothiazide), on lip
opolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-alpha, production. TNF-alpha production,
measured with a bioassay and an immunoassay, was evaluated both in vivo and
in vitro, by utilizing mice and a human peripheral blued mononuclear cell
culture, respectively, Nicardipine, or amlodipine, manidipine and doxazosin
significantly inhibited TNF-alpha production in mice at doses more than on
e or ten times higher than those used clinically, respectively. On the othe
r hand, metoprolol increased TNF-alpha production at doses of more than 10
times those used clinically, whereas hydrochlorothiazide did not alter prod
uction of the cytokine, The in vivo effects of these drugs were not necessa
ry parallel to the in vitro effects. Because high doses of these drugs in m
ice correspond to clinical doses and effects in human, these actions may he
related to beneficial and/or harmful effects of these drugs on TNF-alpha m
ediated diseases, including insulin resistance. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B
.V, All rights reserved.