Atorvastatin reduces interleukin-6 plasma concentration and adipocyte secretion of hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
BACKGROUND
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is secreted by adipocytes and may be involved in atherosclerosis. Few studies have assessed the influence of statins on IL-6 secretion in adipocytes.


METHODS
Rabbits on high-cholesterol diets were randomly given either atorvastatin 1.5 mg/kg day(-1) (n=5) or starch (n=5) for 2 weeks. Subcutaneous adipose was collected for adipocytes culture. IL-6 concentrations in plasma and adipocytes culture supernatant were measured by ELISA. RT-PCR was used to evaluate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma mRNA expression. The in vitro effect of atorvastatin on IL-6 production in adipocytes was observed.


RESULTS
Two weeks atorvastatin treatment resulted in significant reduction of circulating IL-6 concentrations, which was associated with IL-6 secretion in adipocytes (r=0.849, P<0.01). Meanwhile mRNA expression of PPARgamma in adipocytes was intimately related to the IL-6 secretion in adipocytes (r=-0.900, P<0.01). Atorvastatin induced the decreased IL-6 secretion in dose-dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
Atorvastatin can inhibit IL-6 secretion in adipocytes possibly through upregulating PPARgamma, which may help to explain the anti-inflammatory effects of statins use.
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D015870:Gene Expression; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011817:Rabbits; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011758:Pyrroles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000069059:Atorvastatin