[Effect of atorvastatin on inflammatory infiltration in the lung of rabbits with hypercholesterolemia]

To determine the effect of atorvastatin on the hypercholesterolemia induced lesion in the lung.

Fifteen male New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned into a control group (n=5), a high-cholesterol forage group (n=5), and an atrovastatin treatment group (n=5). The control group received normal forage, but the high-cholesterol group and atrovastatin treatment group received high-cholesterol forage. From the 9th week, the atrovastatin treatment group was added atorvastatin, and the experiment stopped at the end of the 14th week. At the beginning of the experiment and at the 8th, 14th week, blood cholesterol and body weight were detected. At the 14th week, bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in vitro after the rabbits were executed; pathological examinations were determined in the lung tissues by staining with hamatoxylin-eosin. Oil red O and the activities of NF-kappaB in the alveolar macrophages (AMs) were investigated by immunocytochemistry. Proliferative cell nuclear antigen in the lung tissues was adopted by immunohistochemistry, and the concentrations of IL-6 in the serum, BALF and the culture supernatants of AMs were measured by ELISA. Pulmonary tissue paraffin section was stained with hamatoxylin-eosin.

Atorvastatin reduced inflammatory infiltration, AM NF-kappaB activation, and cell proliferation in the lung, but raised IL-6 level.

Hypercholesterolemia-induced pulmonary inflammation is attenuated by atorvastatin.