FGF-21 alleviates diabetes-associated vascular complications: Inhibiting NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation?

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic endocrine disorder. It is mainly characterized by hyperglycemia and is associated with the imbalance in carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolisms [ [1] Lin Y. Sun Z. Current views on type 2 diabetes. J. Endocrinol. 2010; 204: 1-11 Crossref PubMed Scopus (286) Google Scholar ]. The number of patients with diabetes has been increasing worldwide in the past two decade, and these patients are at a greater risk of developing complications of the vascular system [ [2] Danaei G. Finucane M.M. Lu Y. Singh G.M. Cowan M.J. Paciorek C.J. et al. National, regional, and global trends in fasting plasma glucose and diabetes prevalence since 1980: systematic analysis of health examination surveys and epidemiological studies with 370 country-years and 2.7 million participants. Lancet. 2011; 378: 31-40 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2670) Google Scholar ]. Accumulating evidence indicates that inflammation is an important pathogenic factor in diabetes-associated vascular complications.