Rosuvastatin prevents proteinuria and renal inflammation in nitric oxide–deficient rats

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of rosuvastatin on renal injury and inflammation in a model of nitric oxide deficiency.METHODS:Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10/group) and treated for 28 days with saline (CTRL); 30 mg/kg/day L-NAME (L-name); L-NAME and 20 mg/kg/day rosuvastatin (L-name+ROS-20); or L-NAME and 2 mg/kg/day rosuvastatin (L-name+ROS-2). Systolic blood pressure was measured by plethysmography in the central artery of the tail. The serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, nitric oxide, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were analyzed. Urine samples were taken to measure the albumin∶urinary creatinine ratio. Kidneys were sectioned and stained with hematoxylin/eosin and Masson's trichrome. Immunohistochemical analysis of the renal tissue was performed to detect macrophage infiltration of the glomeruli.RESULTS:The systolic blood pressure was elevated in the L-name but not the L-name+rosuvastatin-20 and L-name+rosuvastatin-2 groups. The L-name group had a significantly reduced nitric oxide level and an increased interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha level, albumin∶urinary creatinine ratio and number of macrophages in the renal glomeruli. Rosuvastatin increased the nitric oxide level in the L-name+rosuvastatin-2 group and reduced the interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels, glomerular macrophage number and albumin∶urinary creatinine ratio in the L-name+rosuvastatin-20 and L-name+rosuvastatin-2 groups.CONCLUSION:Rosuvastatin treatment reduced glomerular damage due to improvement in the inflammatory pattern independent of the systolic blood pressure and serum lipid level. These effects may lead to improvements in the treatment of kidney disease.

A Trial of Pitavastatin Versus Rosuvastatin for Dyslipidemia in Chronic Kidney Disease

“…A basic study using a rat model of nitric oxide (NO) deficiency reported that rosuvastatin protected glomeruli from damage by reducing inflammation 22) . Some other basic studies also suggest that the renoprotective effects of statins are mediated via the antiinflammatory, vascular endothelial function-improving, antioxidant activities, etc.…”

Cardiology in Brazilian scientific journals: an overview

“…They claim that left ventricular diastolic function and right ventricular functions were not significantly changed, but that left ventricular systolic functions were impaired after maintenance hemodialysis treatment in these patients. Girardi et al [47] assessed the effects of rosuvastatin on renal injury and inflammation in a murine model of nitric oxide deficiency and found that rosuvastatin treatment reduced glomerular damage due to improvement in the inflammatory pattern independent of the systolic blood pressure and serum lipid level. These effects may lead to improvements in the treatment of kidney disease.…”

Rosuvastatin Attenuates Inflammation, Apoptosis and Fibrosis in a Rat Model of Cyclosporine-Induced Nephropathy

“…Rosuvastatin (RUS), a fully synthetic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, reduced inflammation in nitric oxide-deficient rats and had a renoprotective effect in hypertensive rat models [12,13]. However, the benefits of RUS in a rat model of chronic CsA-induced nephropathy have not been reported.…”