Korean J Pathol.  2004 Dec;38(6):401-407.

Effect of Atorvastatin, a HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor, in Experimental Colitis in Mice

• Park HJ
• Kim TW
• Seo JN
• Oh KI
• Choi EY
• Shin HS
• Park YE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, are approved for cholesterol reduction, and may also be beneficial in the treatment of inflammatory disease. In this study, atorvastatin was tested in experimental colitis, a disease model of inflammatory bowel disease.
METHODS
To induce colitis, dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) or trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) were administrated to C57BL/6 or BALB/c mice. Mice were monitored daily for loss of body weight and survival for indicated days. Colon length and histology were examined after sacrifice.
RESULTS
The administration of DSS induced marked colonic inflammation and shortening, and resulted in a loss of body weight. DSSinduced colitis was not affected by atorvastatin treatment, but in contrast, the administration of atorvastatin relieved TNBS-induced colitis with a resultant rapid recovery of weight loss and a reduction in colonic length shortening. Histologically, inflammatory cell infiltration in the colonic wall, mucosal ulceration and crypt disruption were also suppressed in atorvastatin treated mice.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that atorvastatin preserves intestinal integrity in colitis, probably via the modulation of Th cell-mediated immune response, in a manner independent of innate immunity.

Keyword

Atorvastatin; Inflammatory bowel disease; Experimental colitis; Th cell mediated immunity; Immunity, Natural

MeSH Terms

Animals
Body Weight
Cholesterol
Coenzyme A
Colitis*
Colon
Dextrans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
Immunity, Innate
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Mice*
Oxidoreductases*
Sodium
Ulcer
Weight Loss
Atorvastatin Calcium
Cholesterol
Coenzyme A
Dextrans
Oxidoreductases
Sodium