Association of inflammatory response and oxidative injury in the pathogenesis of liver steatosis and insulin resistance following subchronic exposure to malathion in rats

• Present study revealed a hepatosteatosis in rats exposed to malathion.
• Malathion promoted liver oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.
• Malathion stimulated hepatic cytokines expression and initiated insulin resistance.
• Cytokines activated NF-κB and JNK leading to the inhibition of insulin pathways.

Insulin resistance and risk of type 2 diabetes are the most important complications following exposure to organophosphorous (OPs) pesticides. Regarding the importance of liver on metabolic pathways regulation, in particular blood glucose homeostasis, we focused on liver inflammation and oxidative damages in a subchronic model of toxicity by malathion. Adult male Wistar rats of body weight 200–250 g were used for the study. Malathion (200 mg/kg b.w./day) was administered to rats by oral intubation for 28 days. Glycemic and insulin resistance indices, markers of liver injury, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were assessed. Malathion-treated rats showed increased glycemia, insulinemia and glycated hemoglobin level, HOMA-IR and HOMA-β indices, plasma activities of hepatocellular enzymes, lipid peroxidation index, CD3+/CD4+ and CD3+/CD4+ and pro-inflammatory cytokines when decreased antioxidant status in liver was noted. Most of our study indicates that malathion promotes insulin resistance, inflammation and Hepatosteatosis in subchronic model of exposure. On the basis of biochemical and molecular findings, it is concluded that insulin resistance induced by malathion occurs through oxidative stress and related pro-inflammatory markers in a way to result in a reduced function of insulin in liver cells.

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