Bone protective effect of simvastatin in experimental arthritis
Funk JL et al. - Inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase may be therapeutically useful in preserving periarticular bone in RA joints via suppression of inflammation-induced bone resorption. Methods- Aim was to investigate whether simvastatin, a potent HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, alters bone turnover in an animal model of RA
- Hydrolyzed simvastatin (20 mg/kg/day) was administered sc to female Lewis rats 4 days before or 8 days after induction of arthritis
- Effects of simvastatin (vs vehicle) on periarticular bone, assessed by BMD, biochemical markers of bone turnover, and joint histology, were determined
- Effects on joint swelling were assessed clinically and histologically
Results- Simvastatin prevented early and late joint inflammation in association with a decrease in articular macrophage influx
- Simvastatin suppressed bone destruction late in the course of disease, preserving periarticular BMD and preventing increases in periarticular osteoclasts and serum pyridinoline levels
- Had no effect on these measures in normal animals
- Osteocalcin levels, which were decreased in arthritic animals, were unaltered by statin treatment
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