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Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research
Impact of rosuvastatin treatment on reduction of thrombus burden in rat acute inferior vena cava stenosis
Published in: Journal of Inflammation | Issue 1/2014
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Background
This study tested the hypothesis that rosuvastatin reduces thrombus burden through inhibiting inflammation and suppressing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in an inferior vena cava stenosis (IVCST)-induced deep vein thrombosis (DVT) rat model.
Methods
12-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were equally divided into sham control (group 1: laparotomy only), IVCST (group 2: IVC stenosis), and IVCST + rosuvastatin (20 mg/kg/day, orally after induction of IVC stenosis) (group 3). IVC diameter was measured by days 0 and 14 and the right hindlimb thickness was measured by day 0, 7, and 14 prior to scarifying the animals.
Results
The results showed significantly increased IVC diameter and hindlimb thickness in group 2 than in groups 1 and 3, and significantly increased in group 3 than in group 1 by day 14 after the procedure (all p < 0.001). Additionally, WBC count and prevalence of helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, regulatory T cells, and early and late apoptotic mononuclear cells (MNCs) in circulation were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1, and were significantly suppressed in group 3 after treatment (all p < 0.001). Furthermore, inflammation at cellular (CD68+ cells) and protein (MMP-9, TNF-α) levels, oxidative stress (oxidized protein) and reactive oxygen species (NOX-1, NOX-2) in IVC also showed similar changes as those of immune cells in circulation among the three groups (all p < 0.01).
Conclusion
Rosuvastatin treatment significantly reduced IVC thrombus burden through inhibiting inflammatory response and oxidative stress in a rodent model of DVT.