title: Disease modifying effect of statins in dextran sulfate sodium model of mouse colitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the disease modifying effect of simvastatin and atorvastatin in Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) model of colitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty, 8-week old female Swiss-Webster mice were separated into 5 groups (n = 6/group). Colitis was induced by feeding 4 % DSS solution for 7 days. Following discontinuation of DSS, over the next 7 days, the groups orally received simvastatin (20 mg/kg/day), atorvastatin (60 mg/kg/day), vehicle only (0.75 % methylcellulose), subcutaneous 30 mug injections of anti-TNFalpha monoclonal antibody or intraperitoneal anti-mouse apolipoprotein A-I antibody respectively. Disease activity Index (DAI) was determined daily by a blinded investigator.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean reduction in DAI scores from day 7 to day 14 for anti-TNFalpha group, simvastatin and atorvastatin group were 74 %, 76 % and 64 %, respectively as compared to 41 % reduction in vehicle and anti-apolipoprotein A-I antibody-treated groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding suggests that statins may have the ability to modify the disease activity in the DSS model of colitis and the disease modifying effect is comparable to anti-mouse TNFalpha treatment in this model.
authors.affiliation: Drexel University College of Medicine, Office of Research Compliance, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanagarajan
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Z Al
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Noah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murthy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D009780:Occult Blood; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D011758:Pyrroles; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin