Effect of pretreatment with simvastatin on inflammatory factor in acute paraquat-intoxicated rats

Objective To approach the inhibition effect of statins on inflammatory response in acute paraquat-intoxicated(PQ) rats by observing the influence of simvastatin on plasma inflammatory factors.Methods Seventy-two healthy SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group,PQ group and simvastatin group,with 24 rats in each group.The PQ model was established by gavage of paraquat 120 mg/kg in both groups.The simvastatin group was pretreated with simvastatin(20 mg/(kg·d)) a week before gavage,and PQ group and control group were given normal saline 10 mL/kg by gavage,once a day,for totally 7 days.The levels of interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β),interleukin-2(IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in serum were determined 6,24 and 72 hours after treatment.Results The IL-1β level in serum in 6 and 24 hours,IL-2 level in 6 hours,and TNF-α levels in 6,24 and 72 hours were higher in PQ group than those in control group(P0.05).Compared with PQ group,the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in 6,24 and 72 hours were lower in simvastatin group than those in PQ group(P0.05),and IL-2 level was lower in 6 and 72 hours in simvastatin group than that in PQ group(P0.05).Conclusion Simvastatin can inhibit the release of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-2,and may suppress the systemic inflammatory response in acute PQ rats.