The effect of recombinant adeno-associated virus-adiponectin (rAAV2/1-Acrp30) on glycolipid dysmetabolism and liver morphology in diabetic rats

• We built the model of non-alcoholic fatty liver in diabetic rats.
• We investigated the effects of rAAV2/1-Acrp30 on the animal model.
• We investigated the potential roles of NF-κBp65, IκBα in the mechanism.
• APN can ameliorate the lesions of diabetic rats by NF-κBp65 and IκBα.

Adiponectin is an adipocytokine derived from adipocytes with insulin resistance-improving and anti-inflammatory activities. The level of Adiponectin is decreased in obesity, insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The administration of recombinant adiponectin has been shown to improve hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in diabetic mice. Therefore, we investigated the effects of recombinant adeno-associated virus-adiponectin (rAAV2/1-Acrp30) on the glycolipid profile and liver morphology in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Animals were fed a high-fat/high-glucose diet for 4 weeks and diabetes induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin. The animals were divided randomly into four groups: diabetes control group, rAAV2/1-Acrp30 treatment group, vacuity virus group, and normal control group. Compared with diabetic rats and those in the vacuity virus group, animals treated with rAAV2/1-Acrp30 exhibited significantly lower values for glycaemic and lipidic profiles, and significantly higher levels of HDL. Although APN expression increased in the liver tissue, serum levels were not significantly increased. However, the rAAV2/1-Acrp30 treated animals showed amelioration of hepatic disease, accompanied by marked reduction in the expression of NF-κBp65 and IκBα.The results suggest that rAAV2/1-Acrp30 ameliorates glycolipid dysmetabolism and hepatic disease in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. These observations indicate that the function of rAAV2/1-Acrp30 is mediated by downregulated expression of NF-κBp65 and IκBα.