Immunomodulatory effects of atorvastatin on MRL/lpr mice

Autor: Jing Sun, Weidong Xu, Zhiying Wu, Caijin Cao, Yane Tan, Meifang Zhu, Hongze Wu, Jianping Yu
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Advances in Rheumatology, Vol 62, Iss 1, Pp 1-7 (2022)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2523-3106
DOI: 10.1186/s42358-022-00282-z
Popis: Abstract Background Statins have long been extensively prescribed as effective lipid-lowering agents, but statins have also been recognized as novel immunomodulators in recent years. This study was designed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of atorvastatin on lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice. Methods A total of 30 8-week-old female MRL/lpr mice were randomly divided into three groups and orally administered vehicle, atorvastatin orhydroxychloroquine sulfate for 11 weeks. In vivo, the effects of atorvastatin on the survival rate, renal function and spleen index in MRL/lpr mice were examined. Ex vivo, splenic B-cell proliferation was assessed by a Cell Counting Kit-8. Results Oral atorvastatin failed to prolong survival time, or reduce the levels of proteinuria, or serum anti-dsDNA antibody and complement proteins (C3, C4). Histologically, no significant improvement by atorvastatin was observed in the pathological manifestations of renal damage, while hydroxychloroquine sulfate significantly improved glomerular injury. Ex vivo, atorvastatin suppressed the proliferation of splenic B lymphocytes. Conclusion Oral atorvastatin monotherapy had no therapeutic effects on MRL/lpr mice, whereas atorvastatin inhibited splenic B-cell proliferation in vitro, suggesting that atorvastatin has a potential therapeutic effect on systemic lupus erythematosus.
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