title: Can statins reduce the inflammatory response associated with preterm birth in an animal model?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to determine the effect of statins on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in a mouse model of preterm birth (PTB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Day 15 CD1 mice were randomly allocated to intraperitoneal LPS injection (100 μg) or control. Mice in the LPS group were pretreated, 16 and 2 hours prior, with pravastatin (10 μg/g), simvastatin (10 μg/g), or vehicle control. Animals were sacrificed 6 hours after LPS. Cytokine messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in the uterus and cervix, and concentrations in the maternal serum and amniotic fluid (AF) were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pravastatin reduced interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 mRNA expression in the uterus and cervix, respectively, and serum IL-1β and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) concentrations. Simvastatin reduced IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA expressions in the uterus, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the cervix, and IL-1β, IL-2, IL-12p70, IL-13, TNF-α, GM-CSF, and interferon-γ concentrations in the serum and IL-6 in AF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statins reduce the LPS-induced inflammatory responses in a mouse model of PTB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Sanmaan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Basraon
authors.forename: Ramkumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makhlouf
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Gary D V
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Hankins
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Saade
authors.forename: Maged M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Costantine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000276:immunology*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin