Atorvastatin has the pleiotropic effects, including anti-inflammation and antioxidant. Therefore, this study considered to examine the effects of atorvastatin on NF-қB expression, as a main transcription factor for expression of inflammatory cytokines, in hyperglycemia-induced nephropathy in rat.
Twenty four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups; Normal, Normal treatment, Diabetic, and Diabetic treatment. Rats were made diabetic by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg). Treated rats received atorvastatin for 60 days (40 mg/kg/day). At the end of experiment, blood samples were collected for measurement of blood glucose. Moreover, the mRNA expression level of NF-қB in kidney was determined by RT-PCR technique.
Induction of diabetes significantly increased the mean value of blood glucose in diabetic rats (>450 mg/dl) compared with normal rats (P=0.001). Chronic hyperglycemia also increased the mRNA expression level of NF-қB in diabetic kidney. Moreover, the mean value of kidney index was significantly increased in diabetic rats compared to normal group (P=0.001). Treatment with atorvastatin in diabetic rats for 60 days reduced the mRNA expression level of NF-қB and kidney index compared to non-treated diabetic rats (P=0.014).
Our findings revealed that atorvastatin is able to prevent the development of diabetic nephropathy during chronic uncontrolled hyperglycemia possibly by the inhibition of NF-қB expression in the kidneys of diabetic rats.