Diacerein attenuates vascular dysfunction by reducing inflammatory response and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats.

To examine the effect of diacerein on vascular dysfunction in type 2 diabetic rats and elucidate the mechanism of diacerein. In a rat model, type 2 diabetes was induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin. Vascular function was assessed in vascular reactivity experiment. The effect of diacerein (10 or 20 mg/kg/day) on blood glucose, inflammation and insulin signaling, and modulators in vascular tissue in diabetic rats were investigated by molecular and biochemical approaches. In this study, diacerein inhibited diabetes-induced vascular dysfunction. Diacerein treatment normalized blood glucose, insulin tolerance test, inflammatory cytokine levels and nitric oxide synthases expression in diabetic rats. Moreover, diacerein inhibited NF-κB and NLRP3 pathways and activated insulin signaling pathway related proteins IRS-1 and AKT in diabetic rats. Diacerein improved vascular function effectively in diabetic rats by suppressing inflammation and reducing insulin resistance. These results suggest that diacerein may represent a novel therapy for patients with diabetes. • In our study, we found diacerein inhibited diabetes-induced vascular dysfunction for the first time. • Diacerein treatment normalized blood glucose, insulin resistance, inflammatory cytokine levels and endothelial nitric oxide synthase and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in diabetic rats. • Diacerein inhibited NF-κB and NLRP3 pathways and activated insulin signaling pathway related proteins IRS-1 and AKT in diabetic rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]