OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-inflammatory effects on the vessel wall of rosuvastatin in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

METHODSEight-week-old apolipoprotein E-deficient mice fed a normal chow diet were treated with vehicle or various doses of rosuvastatin (1, 5, or 20 mg/kg) by subcutaneous injection for 2 or 6 weeks prior to sacrifice. Endothelial adhesiveness for monocytes was determined by functional binding assay. The expressions of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in the vessel wall were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSEndothelial adhesiveness for monocytes was significantly attenuated after 2 or 6 weeks treatments with 5 or 20 mg/kg rosuvastatin. Rosuvastatin also significantly reduced the expressions of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in the vessel wall.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-inflammatory effects of suvastatin might be responsible for attenuating the pathogenesis of atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.