Inhibitory effects of simvastatin on activation of renal nuclear factor-kappa B and expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in experimental type 2 diabetic rat

Objective To investigate the effects of simvastatin on activation of renal nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) in type 2 diabetic rats.Methods Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into control group,diabetic group and simvastatin treatment group.The rats of the latter two groups were intraperitoneally injected low-dose streptozotocin(STZ,30mg/kg) after having the sucrose and fat enriched diets (20%sucrose,10%pig fat,2.5%cholesterol ) for four weeks.Immuohistochemistry method was used to measure the activation of NF-κB and expression of ICAM-1 in rat renal tissue.Results Compared with control group,the activation of NF-κB and expression of ICAM-1 increased in glomeruli of the rats of diabetic group.After 4 weeks of the therapy,simvastatin ameliorated significantly the activation of NF-κB and the expression of ICAM-1,improved the renal function and the renal tissue injured.Conclusion The renal protection of simvastatin is partly associated with an anti-inflammatory action through a reduction of NF-κB activation,proinflammatory cytokines ICAM-1 expression in the early phase of diabetic nephropathy,independent of the cholesterol-lowering effects.