Objective: To investigate the change of serum TNF-alpha level in type 2 diabetes mellitus after treating with rosiglitazone, and the relationship between TNF-alpha and insulin resistance.
Methods: The level of serum TNF-alpha in 27 patients was tested by radioimmunoassay before and after treating with rosiglitazone. Free insulin, free blood sugar, TG, HDL-C and weight were measured, and HOMA-IR was calculated.
Results: The level of serum TNF-alpha in the patients was higher than that in the controls (P < 0.005) and rosiglitazone could decrease the level of serum TNF-alpha (P < 0.001). The level of serum TNF-alpha was positively related to serum TNF-alpha, TG, FBS and ln (HOMA-IR), and it was negatively related to HDL-C (r = -0.508, P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Rosiglitazone can decrease the level of serum TNF-alpha significantly and improve insulin resistance.