Does pioglitazone increase macrophage apoptosis and plaque necrosis in advanced atherosclerotic lesions of nondiabetic low-density lipoprotein receptor-null mice?
The potential atheroprotective effects of TZDs conferred by insulin sensitization may be partially offset by adverse effects on advanced atherosclerosis. Because the mechanisms of the beneficial and proposed adverse effects may differ, these findings have potentially important implications for drug optimization.
We propose a novel mechanism whereby plasma TNF-α, via TNFR2 alone or with TNFR1, plays an important role in skin barrier function during chronic liver disease in these mouse models.