Effect of atorvastatin on diabetic rat endothelial cells and retinal lesions

Abstract

ABSTRACT.We investigated the effect of atorvastatin on vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (VEGI) expression in rats with diabetic retinopathy. Wistar rats were divided into a blank group and diabetic model group, which was further randomly divided into treatment and control groups. Rats in the treatment group received 10 mg/kg atorvastatin daily, while rats in the blank and control groups received normal saline. Rats were randomly euthanized at 3 or 6 months. Immunohistochemical staining was used to determine changes in VEGI and vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-4, and tumor necrosis factor α levels in rats with diabetic retinopathy. Survival rate in the treatment group was 84% (63/75) after 6 months, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05); rats in the control group showed the lowest survival rate. Survival in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group but not significant compared with the blank group after 3 months. VEGI, vascular endothelial growth factor, tumor necrosis factor α, and interluekin-4 expression was lower than that in the control group, but higher than the blank group after 3 months. The (2015) expression of each factor decreased to the blank group level in the treatment group and was significantly lower than that in the control group after 6 months (P < 0.05). Expression in control and blank groups was similar at 3 and 6 months. Atorvastatin can inhibit VEGI and vascular endothelial growth factor expression to protect rats from diabetic retinopathy.

Lipid‐lowering medication is associated with decreased risk of diabetic retinopathy and the need for treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes: A real‐world observational analysis of a health claims database

“…For example, Nielsen et al reported that statin use before a patient develops diabetes was not associated with further progression of DR over 13 years, using a nation-wide healthrelated database in Denmark. 27 Simvastatin increased circulating endothelial progenitor cells and reduced the development and progression of DR in rats. Atorvastatin significantly reduced the oxidative stress level in a rat model involving hyperlipidaemia 26 and decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in rats.…”

“…Atorvastatin significantly reduced the oxidative stress level in a rat model involving hyperlipidaemia 26 and decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in rats. 27 Simvastatin increased circulating endothelial progenitor cells and reduced the development and progression of DR in rats. 28 Patients who are using statins showed a lower concentration of angiopoietin-2, which is known to increase permeability and to have proangiogenic characteristics, in the vitreous obtained at the time of vitreous surgery.…”

Statin reduces the incidence of diabetic retinopathy and its need for intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…11 However, potent statin has been shown to affect the mechanism of diabetic retinopathy in preclinical trials and also has a more profound effect than standard statin used in the aforementioned study. 15–18 The threshold for statin therapy in today’s practice is currently lower compared to that a decade ago, and diabetic patients (40–75 years old) are recommended to take moderate-intensity statin at minimum. 19 A moderate-intensity statin regimen is defined as the dose of statin that is expected to reduce the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level by 30%–50% and a high-intensity statin regimen is defined as the dose of statin expected to reduce LDL-C by ⩾50%.…”

Rosuvastatin promotes benefits on induced periodontitis in hypertensive rats

“…Through their immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties, statins can influence some of these mediators. For instance, it was shown that statins can reduce the expression of fractalkine , IL‐17 , IL‐13 receptor , IL‐5 and IL‐4 . In fact, preclinical studies have demonstrated that statins prevent the inflammatory bone reabsorption in experimental periodontitis .…”