Standardized Study of Atorvastatin Possible Osteoarthritis
Disease-Modifying Effect in Rats
Abstract
Background and purpose: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and progressive
joint disorder characterized by structural damage to one or more joints.
However, drugs that could cure or at least stop the progression of this
disease are still given no satisfactory outcome. The purpose of this
work is to study the potential OA disease-modifying effects of
atorvastatin in an experimental model of osteoarthritis and the possible
underlining mechanisms if any. Experimental Approach: Seventy-six adult
male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300gms) were used throughout this study.
Forty rats were used to assess the effect of atorvastatin in surgically
induced OA. While 36 rats were used to assess its anti-inflammatory
effect in carrageenan-induced paw edema. In the model of OA; the degree
of joint stiffness was assessed by measuring the angle of knee extension
besides, the histopathological changes of the OA knee joints and
measurement of serum Interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), Matrix
metalloproteinase-13 (MMP13), and reduced glutathione (GSH)
concentration were biochemically assessed. In the carrageenan-induced
paw edema, the paw thickness and pain threshold were assessed in
different groups. Key Results: Atorvastatin was found to produce
significant improvement of joint stiffness, the histopathological
changes, a significant correction in the increased MMP13 and IL1-β, and
the decreased GTH in OA rats. Also, atorvastatin showed a significant
improvement in both paw thickness and pain threshold. Conclusion and
Implications These results present atorvastatin as OA disease-modifying
drug worse clinical trials.