title: Synergistic effects of colchicine combined with atorvastatin in rats with hyperlipidemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction is implicated in the atherosclerosis initiation and progression in the setting of hyperlipidemia. Colchicine is a potent anti-inflammatory agent and whether colchicine combined with atorvastatin has synergistic effects on inflammation amelioration and endothelial function improvement is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hyperlipidemic rat model was produced by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet for 6 weeks. Rats with normal diet were served as shame group. In hyperlipidemic group, normal saline, atorvastatin (10 mg/kg body weight/day), colchicines (0.5 mg/kg body weight/day), or atorvastatin combined with colchicines (same dosages) were prescribed for 2 weeks. Serum levels of lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), liver enzyme, lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and nitric oxide (NO) production were serially assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the beginning of the study, all laboratory variables were comparable among each group. After 6 weeks of hyperlipidemic model production, serum levels of cholesterols, CRP and Lp-PLA2 were significantly increased when compared to sham group, whereas NO production was reduced. With 2 weeks of colchicine therapy, serum levels of CRP and Lp-PLA2 were decreased and NO production was enhanced in the colchicine group in a lipid-lowering independent manner. Added colchicine into atorvastatin therapy further improved NO production and decreased CRP and Lp-PLA2 levels, indicating a potential synergism of colchicine and atorvastatin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colchicine combined with atorvastatin may have stronger protective effects on improving endothelial function and ameliorating inflammation in rats with hyperlipidemia.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Internal Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University, Shantou, China. huangcw@vip.sina.com.
authors.forename: Congwu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cen
authors.forename: ChengXu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Haiyong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000097:blood; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D011758:Pyrroles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; D003078:Colchicine
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