Immunomodulatory effects of rosuvastatin on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion induced injury.

UNLABELLED: Liver ischemia followed by reperfusion results in liver injury which in turn produces and releases destructive proinflammatory cytokines into the circulation causing subsequent damage to other organs. This remains a significant problem for surgical procedures and liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we show the effect of rosuvastatin on multiple organ dysfunction induced by hepatic/ischemia reperfusion.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury was induced in rats, and groups of rats were pretreated with oral rosuvastatin.

RESULTS

Our study detected the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-10, and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) not only in serum but also in liver, lung, kidney intestine, and heart tissues. Rosuvastatin pretreatment appears to protect these organs after hepatic I/R injury through the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1) and stimulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) production.

DISCUSSION AND

CONCLUSION

This is the first report of rosuvastatin immunomodulatory effects on multiorgan dysfunction after hepatic I/R. Our data suggest a therapeutic potential for rosuvastatin in attenuating inflammation and modulating immune response independent of lipid lowering effect.