Why does atorvastatin inhibit renal crystal retention?

Urol Res. 2011 Oct;39(5):379-83. doi: 10.1007/s00240-011-0370-1. Epub 2011 Mar 12.

Abstract

Recently, we reported that atorvastatin prevents renal tubular cell injury by oxalate and inhibits renal crystal retention. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which atorvastatin inhibits renal crystal retention. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into four experimental groups, and the ethylene glycol model of hyperoxaluria and the atorvastatin treatment model were analyzed. To clarify the mechanism by which atorvastatin inhibits renal crystal retention, the removed kidneys were used for the quantitative analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. The subunits of the NADPH oxidase system were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Furthermore, the level of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in kidney tissue was compared in each group. Atorvastatin treatment increased the SOD and catalase level compared with the stone-forming control group. Atorvastatin treatment decreased the expression of NOX-1 mRNA. Furthermore, the level of TGF-β was suppressed by atorvastatin treatment. We found that atorvastatin have inhibited calcium oxalate (CaOX) urolithiasis formation. We hypothesize that the mechanism of action of atorvastatin involves inhibiting TGF-β and NADPH oxidase, and increasing the SOD and catalase level. We believe that atorvastatin will be helpful in the treatment of CaOX urolithiasis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atorvastatin
  • Calcium Oxalate / chemistry
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Crystallization
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Heptanoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Kidney Calculi / chemistry
  • Kidney Calculi / drug therapy
  • Kidney Calculi / metabolism
  • Kidney Calculi / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • NADPH Oxidase 1
  • NADPH Oxidases / genetics
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / genetics

Substances

  • Heptanoic Acids
  • Pyrroles
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Calcium Oxalate
  • Atorvastatin
  • Catalase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases
  • NADPH Oxidase 1
  • NADPH Oxidases
  • Rac1 protein, rat
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein