Irbesartan attenuates production of high-mobility group box 1 in response to lipopolysaccharide via downregulation of interferon-β production

• Irbesartan (IRB) inhibits LPS-induced HMGB1 and NO production in macrophages.
• IRB inhibits production of interferon-β in response to LPS.
• PPAR-γ and AT1 receptors are not involved in the inhibitory action of IRB.
• IRB may prevent development of diabetic complications by HMGB1 and NO.

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is suggested to participate in development of local and systemic inflammatory disorders. Irbesartan (IRB), an angiotensin II type1 receptor blocker, is widely used for treatment of hypertension, especially in patients with diabetic nephropathy. The effect of IRB on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HMGB1 and nitric oxide (NO) production was examined using RAW 264.7 macrophage-like cells. IRB inhibited LPS-induced HMGB1 production. IRB also reduced LPS-induced expression of an inducible NO synthase, and inhibited LPS-induced NO production. The expression levels of IFN-β protein and mRNA, which is a key molecule in MyD88-independent pathway of LPS signaling, were exclusively inhibited by IRB. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and angiotensin II type 1 receptor were not involved in the inhibitory action of IRB on LPS-induced HMGB1 and NO production. Collectively, IRB was suggested to inhibit LPS-induced HMGB1 production via downregulation of IFN-β production in the MyD88-independent pathway.