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Improvement in insulin resistance after short-term treatment with abatacept: case report and short review

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Abstract

Insulin resistance, a key feature of type 2 diabetes, is an independent risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and represents the core of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Actually, an intriguing correlation between MetS and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is largely accepted but not yet completely clarified in detail. Recently, the therapeutic arsenal against RA has been enriched of abatacept, a fusion protein (CTLA4 immunoglobulin) designed to modulate the T cell co-stimulatory signal mediated through the CD28–CD80/86 pathway. Here, we report a case of dramatic improvement in insulin resistance, estimated with the surrogate measure HOMA-IR, after treatment with abatacept. Lastly, we shortly review the preclinical evidences supporting a possible role of T lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis-associated insulin resistance and how abatacept could improve glucose metabolism by suppressing adipose tissue infiltrating cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program in Molecular Oncology, Experimental Immunology and Development of Innovative Therapies, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia” campus “Salvatore Venuta”, viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy

    Francesco Ursini

  2. Rheumatology Research Unit, Clinical and Experimental Medicine Department “G Salvatore”, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia” campus “Salvatore Venuta”, viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy

    Daniele Mauro, Saverio Naty, Denis Gagliardi & Rosa Daniela Grembiale

Authors
  1. Francesco Ursini
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  2. Daniele Mauro
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  3. Saverio Naty
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  4. Denis Gagliardi
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  5. Rosa Daniela Grembiale
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesco Ursini.

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Key message

Abatacept could be able to improve metabolic status in insulin-resistant patients.

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Ursini, F., Mauro, D., Naty, S. et al. Improvement in insulin resistance after short-term treatment with abatacept: case report and short review. Clin Rheumatol 31, 1401–1402 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-012-2034-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-012-2034-0

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