Effects of atorvastatin on the experimental autoimmune myocarditis in Lewis rats

AIM:To test the hypothesis that atorvastatin affects T cell-mediated autoimmunity through modulating the balance of Th1/Th2 and reduces the severity of EAM. METHODS:Myocarditis was induced in Lewis rats by injection of porcine cardiac myosin. High-dose (10 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) or low-dose (1 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) atorvastatin or vehicle was administered orally for 3 weeks. On day 21, echocardiography was examined and the severity of myocarditis was detected by histopathological evaluation. Levels of serum IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 were measured by ELISA. RESULTS:Cardiac function and histological severity of myocarditis were improved in the two atorvastatin-treated groups. Treatment with atorvastatin decreased the levels of Th1 cytokine (IFN-γ, IL-2) and increased the levels of Th2 cytokine (IL-4, IL-10). CONCLUSION:These results suggest that HMG-CoA reductase blockade may be a promising new strategy for the treatment of autoimmune myocarditis.