Hydroxychloroquine improves high-fat-diet-induced obesity and organ dysfunction via modulation of lipid level, oxidative stress, and inflammation

Abstract

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a successful therapeutic anti-inflammatory drug frequently utilized in clinical settings for a number of disorders and diseases, however, it impact on obesity has not yet been fully established. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and mechanism of action of HCQ on obesity in rats fed high fat diet (HFD). Adult male rats were feed a HFD for 18 weeks and concurrently treated with HCQ. The data showed that HCQ significantly reduced body weight gain, decreased blood glucose, HbA1c, and improved insulin level and insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, it normalized the serum lipid profile and D-dimer level. Comparable values of cardiac function parameters with the control group were observed The effects of HCQ was explained by striking amelioration of oxidative stress indicated by the lower levels of 4HNE and higher levels of GPx and GSH in the liver of HFD+HCQ than HFD fed rats. Furthermore, the inflammatory and the anti-inflammatory markers in serum of HFD+HCQ-treated rats were normalized to the control levels. In conclusion, the stabilization of redox balance and modulation of inflammatory response and their interdependence explain the ameliorative effect of HCQ on obesity and related metabolic disruption as well as organ functions.