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.