Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of Rosuvastatin on Asthmatic, Hyperlipidemic, and Asthmatic-Hyperlipidemic Rat Models

Statins could be of potential therapeutic effect in asthma due to their pleiotropic effects on inflammation process. This study aimed to examine the possible interaction of serum lipids, and evaluate the effect of rosuvastatin treatment on asthma. Seven groups of rats, namely control (C), asthmatic (A), hyperlipidemic (H), asthmatic-hyperlipidemic (AH), rosuvastatin (40 mg/kg)-treated asthmatic (AR), rosuvastatin-treated hyperlipidemic (HR), and rosuvastatin-treated hyperlipidemic-asthmatic (AHR) groups, were studied. Total and differential WBC counts, serum oxidative stress markers, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were evaluated. In the A and AH groups, total and differential WBC counts, and IL-6 and IL-10 levels were higher than in the C group (p<0.05 to p<0.001). An increase in nitrite and malondialdehyde concentrations and a decrease in total thiol content and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were observed in the A, H, and AH groups compared to the C group (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Beyond lipid lowering, rosuvastatin treatment reduced total and differential WBC counts in the A and AH groups (p<0.05 to p<0.001), IL-6 level in the AH group (p<0.05), and IL-10 level in all treated groups (p<0.05). Rosuvastatin reduced oxidative stress by decreasing nitrite and malondialdehyde concentrations, and increasing total thiol content in all treated groups as well as superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the H and AH groups (p<0.05 to p<0.01). Rosuvastatin reduced airway inflammation and oxidation through regulating NOS and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine and inflammatory cells, which indicate a novel insight into the pleiotropic effects of rosuvastatin in treatment of asthma.