Administration of CORM-2 inhibits diabetic neuropathy but does not reduce dyslipidemia in diabetic mice

PLoS One. 2018 Oct 4;13(10):e0204841. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204841. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The antinociceptive effects of the carbon monoxide-releasing molecule tricarbonyldichlororuthenium (II) dimer (CORM-2) during chronic pain are well documented, but most of its possible side-effects remain poorly understood. In this work, we examine the impact of CORM-2 treatment on the lipoprotein profile and two main atheroprotective functions attributed to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes while analyzing the effect of this drug on diabetic neuropathy. Streptozotocin (Stz)-induced diabetic mice treated with CORM-2 (Stz-CORM-2) or vehicle (Stz-vehicle) were used to evaluate the effect of this drug on the modulation of painful diabetic neuropathy using nociceptive behavioral tests. Plasma and tissue samples were used for chemical and functional analyses, as appropriate. Two main antiatherogenic properties of HDL, i.e., the ability of HDL to protect low-density lipoprotein (LDL) from oxidation and to promote reverse cholesterol transport from macrophages to the liver and feces in vivo (m-RCT), were also assessed. Stz-induced diabetic mice displayed hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and pain hypersensitivity. The administration of 10 mg/kg CORM-2 during five consecutive days inhibited allodynia and hyperalgesia and significantly ameliorated spinal cord markers (Cybb and Bdkrb1expression) of neuropathic pain in Stz mice, but it did not reduce the combined dyslipidemia shown in Stz-treated mice. Its administration to Stz-treated mice led to a significant increase in the plasma levels of cholesterol (∼ 1.4-fold vs. Ctrl, ∼ 1.3- fold vs. Stz-vehicle; p < 0.05) and was attributed to significant elevations in both non-HDL (∼ 1.8-fold vs. Ctrl; ∼ 1.6-fold vs. Stz-vehicle; p < 0.05) and HDL cholesterol (∼ 1.3-fold vs. Ctrl, ∼ 1.2-fold vs. Stz-vehicle; p < 0.05). The increased HDL in plasma was not accompanied by a commensurate elevation in m-RCT in Stz-CORM-2 compared to Stz-vehicle mice; instead, it was worsened as revealed by decreased [3H]-tracer trafficking into the feces in vivo. Furthermore, the HDL-mediated protection against LDL oxidation ex vivo shown by the HDL isolated from Stz-CORM-2 mice did not differ from that obtained in Stz-vehicle mice. In conclusion, the antinociceptive effects produced by a high dose of CORM-2 were accompanied by antioxidative effects but were without favorable effects on the dyslipidemia manifested in diabetic mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / metabolism
  • Diabetic Neuropathies / metabolism
  • Diabetic Neuropathies / prevention & control*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Dyslipidemias / metabolism*
  • Hyperalgesia / metabolism
  • Hyperalgesia / prevention & control
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / analysis
  • Mice
  • Organometallic Compounds / administration & dosage*
  • Organometallic Compounds / pharmacology
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Streptozocin

Substances

  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • tricarbonyldichlororuthenium (II) dimer
  • Streptozocin
  • Cholesterol

Grants and funding

This work was partly supported by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), Unión Europea grants PI17/00232 (to JJ), PI16/00139 (to JCE-G), PI16/00471 (to JLS-Q), PI0900968 and PI1400927 (to OP), and FEDER “Una manera de hacer Europa”; and Fundació La Marató de TV3 (grant number 201602-31 to JJ). JJ is recipient of a Miguel Servet Type 1 contract ISCIII (CP13/00070). KAM-L is recipient of an AGAUR grant FI-DGR2014 (Generalitat de Catalunya). CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM) is a project of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau is accredited by the Generalitat de Catalunya as Centre de Recerca de Catalunya (CERCA).