Rosuvastatin Treatment Alone Cannot Alleviate Lupus in Murine Model: a Pilot Study

Overview

Journal J Rheum Dis

Specialty Rheumatology

Date 2023 Jul 21

PMID 37476679

Authors

Wook-Young Baek

Sung-Min Lee

Sang-Won Lee

Chang-Hee Suh

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by the production of autoantibodies and high cholesterol levels. HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A) reductase inhibitors have exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in several clinical trials. We conducted this study to evaluate the effect of rosuvastatin on inflammatory responses in lupus-prone mice.

Methods: MRL/ mice were intraperitoneally injected with rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg, n=4) or vehicle (2% dimethyl sulfoxide, n=4) five times a week from 13 to 17 weeks of age. The serum levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and autoantibodies were measured, as well as the urine levels of albumin. Renal tissues were stained for histopathological analysis. Concentrations of key inflammatory cytokines were measured in the serum, and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in target organs (kidney, spleen, and lymph nodes) were evaluated.

Results: Rosuvastatin treatment significantly decreased serum LDL cholesterol concentration in MRL/ mice. However, the clinical manifestations and autoantibody titres did not improve with rosuvastatin treatment. In addition, serum inflammatory cytokines and proteinuria did not change. Histopathological analysis of the kidneys revealed no improvement. When assessing the expression of mRNA, treatment with rosuvastatin decreased tumor necrosis alpha and interleukin-17 concentration in spleen and kidney tissue and in the kidneys and lymph nodes of MRL/ mice, respectively.

Conclusion: Although it can decrease inflammatory cytokines in the lymphoid organs and kidneys of MRL/ mice, treatment with rosuvastatin is insufficient to alleviate SLE.

Citing Articles

Association between Mean Platelet Volume and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Meta-Analysis.

Lee Y, Song G Iran J Public Health. 2024; 53(5):978-987.

PMID: 38912146 PMC: 11188651. DOI: 10.18502/ijph.v53i5.15578.

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