Disease modifying effect of statins in dextran sulfate sodium model of mouse colitis

Abstract

We evaluated the disease modifying effect of simvastatin and atorvastatin in Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) model of colitis. Thirty, 8-week old female Swiss-Webster mice were separated into 5 groups (n = 6/group). Colitis was induced by feeding 4 % DSS solution for 7 days. Following discontinuation of DSS, over the next 7 days, the groups orally received simvastatin (20 mg/kg/day), atorvastatin (60 mg/kg/day), vehicle only (0.75 % methylcellulose), subcutaneous 30 mug injections of anti-TNFalpha monoclonal antibody or intraperitoneal anti-mouse apolipoprotein A-I antibody respectively. Disease activity Index (DAI) was determined daily by a blinded investigator. The mean reduction in DAI scores from day 7 to day 14 for anti-TNFalpha group, simvastatin and atorvastatin group were 74 %, 76 % and 64 %, respectively as compared to 41 % reduction in vehicle and anti-apolipoprotein A-I antibody-treated groups. This finding suggests that statins may have the ability to modify the disease activity in the DSS model of colitis and the disease modifying effect is comparable to anti-mouse TNFalpha treatment in this model.