Effects of simvastatin on 5-fluorouracil-induced gastrointestinal mucositis in rats. / Efeitos da sinvastatina na mucosite gastrointestinal induzida por 5-fluorouracil em ratos.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: simvastatin has pleiotropic anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects potentially usefull to prevent chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal mucositis. Studies on this are scarce. This study aimed to examine the effects of simvastatin on gastric and intestinal mucositis after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment in rats. METHODS: rats weighing 270±18g were divided into two groups. The 5-FU+saline group (5-FU/SAL) rats were treated with 5-FU (50mg/kg) plus 0.9% saline orally (gavage) once daily for five days. The 5-FU+simvastatin (5-FU/SIMV) group was treated with 5-FU (50mg/kg), plus simvastatin (10mg/kg), in the same way. The rats were euthanased on the sixth day, then their stomach and intestine were photographed and removed for exams. Dosages of serum TNF-a, IL-1ß, IL-6 and histopathology were done for stomach and intestine. RESULTS: body-weight was significantly lower in rats treated with 5-FU+saline than the weight loss of the 5-FU/SIMV group rats. TNF-a expression was lower in 5-FU/SIMV group (172.6±18pg/ml) than in 5-FU/SAL (347.5±63pg/ml). Serum IL-1b was lower in 5-FU/SAL group (134.5±23pg/ml) than in 5-FU/SIMV (48.3±9pg/ml). Serum IL-6 was 61.8±15pg/ml in 5-FU/SIMV and 129.4±17pg/ml in 5-FU/SAL groups. These differences were significant (p<0.05). Mucosal damage in stomach and jejunum were observed in rats receiving 5-FU alone. In the stomach and jejunum, simvastatin caused significant protective effects against 5-FU-induced mucosal injury. CONCLUSION: simvastatin attenuated gastric and intestinal mucositis related to 5-FU therapeutics in animal model. These data encourage forthcoming clinical studies addressing the usefulness of statins in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal mucositis.

RESUMO

OBJETIVO: examinar os efeitos da sinvastatina na mucosite gástrica e intestinal após o tratamento com 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), determinados pela expressão de citocinas e histologia em ratos. MÉTODOS: ratos pesando 270±15g foram divididos em dois grupos. O grupo 5-FU+salina foi tratado com 5-FU (50mg/kg) mais solução salina a 0,9% por gavagem uma vez ao dia por cinco dias. O grupo 5-FU+sinvastatina foi tratado com 5-FU (50mg/kg), mais sinvastatina (10mg/kg), da mesma forma. Foi feita a eutanásia dos animais no sexto dia. O estômago e o intestino foram fotografados e removidos para exame. Dosagens séricas de TNF-a, IL-1ß, IL-6 e histopatologia (coloração HE) do estômago e intestino foram realizadas. RESULTADOS: o peso corporal diminuiu em ratos no grupo 5-FU+salina. A sinvastatina não inibiu a perda de peso induzida pelo 5-FU. Danos significativos da mucosa no estômago e no jejuno foram observados em ratos que receberam apenas 5-FU. As dosagens séricas de citocinas foram significativamente menores no grupo 5-FU+sinvastatina do que no grupo 5-FU (p<0,05). A sinvastatina causou efeitos protetores significativos contra as lesões da mucosa gástrica e jejunal induzidas por 5-FU. CONCLUSÃO: a sinvastatina atenua a mucosite gástrica e intestinal relacionada à terapêutica com 5-FU. Nossos dados encorajam futuros estudos pré-clínicos e clínicos sobre a utilidade das estatinas na prevenção da mucosite gastrointestinal.