Effect of Fenofibrate on the Expression of Inflammatory Mediators in a Diabetic Rat Model

ABSTRACTPurpose: To investigate the mechanisms of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-α agonist, in preventing diabetic retinopathy (DR) progression via a diabetic rat model.Methods: Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin in 6-week-old female Wistar rats. Diabetic rats were divided into diabetes without treatment (n=10), diabetes treated with low dose fenofibrate (30 mg/kg/day) (n=10) and high dose fenofibrate (100 mg/kg/day) (n=10). Serum aqueous humor (AqH) and ocular tissues were gathered after 3-month treatment. Expressions of NF-κB and inflammatory chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, fractalkine and intercellular adhesion molecule-1) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The levels of oxidative biomarkers, including acrolein, nitrotyrosin...