Immunohistochemical evidence for involvement of inflammatory cytokines in anti-arrhythmic effects of rosuvastatin in male rats

Considering the cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory properties of statins, the aim of the present experiment was to investigate the possible involvement of inflammatory cytokines in anti-arrhythmic effects of rosuvastatin in both in vitro and in vivo experiments in rats.

Three weeks after oral administration of either of rosuvastatin or vehicle, the atria were removed and after incubation with ouabain, time of onset of arrhythmia and asystole were recorded. We also used immunohistochemistry technique to identify the differentially expressed proteins interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in atria.

Rosuvastatin significantly postponed the onset of arrhythmia compared to vehicle-treated group. Injection of ouabain increased the atrial expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α proteins, while pretreatment of rats with rosuvastatin could significantly attenuate them.

Our data suggest that rosuvastatin exerts anti-arrhythmic properties at least in part through modulation of inflammatory cytokines.