title: Effects of simvastatin on the expression of inducible NOS in acute lung injury in septic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The available evidence suggests that simvastatin plays a beneficial role in lung injury. In addition, statins have been shown to inhibit the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of simvastatin on iNOS expression based on a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (control group, sepsis group and simvastatin group). A rat model of sepsis was established with LPS. The simvastatin group was pre-treated with simvastatin, whereas the control and sepsis groups were treated with saline before LPS treatment. LPS was injected into the rats in the simvastatin and sepsis groups, while as a negative control, the control group received saline alone. The oxygenation index, expression levels of iNOS and IL-6, and pathological integral of lung injury were analyzed to evaluate the effect of simvastatin on septic rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the septic group, significant decreases in the oxygenation index and expression level of iNOS were observed in the simvastatin group. Furthermore, simvastatin treatment resulted in a significant decrease in iNOS levels and the pathological integral of lung injury score in septic rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simvastatin can relieve acute lung injury induced by sepsis in rats. Decreasing iNOS levels may contribute to the protective role of simvastatin in lung injury.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yan-Sen University Guangzhou 510120, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Wei-Chao
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yan-Sen University Guangzhou 510120, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zi-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yan-Sen University Guangzhou 510120, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ming-Gen
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yan-Sen University Guangzhou 510120, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yan-Sen University Guangzhou 510120, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yan-Sen University Guangzhou 510120, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yu-Kai
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yan-Sen University Guangzhou 510120, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Jie
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat
keywords: Simvastatin; inducible nitric oxide synthase; lung injury; septic rats
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