Atorvastatin reduces interleukin-6 plasma concentration and adipocyte secretion of hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is secreted by adipocytes and may be involved in atherosclerosis. Few studies have assessed the influence of statins on IL-6 secretion in adipocytes.

Methods: Rabbits on high-cholesterol diets were randomly given either atorvastatin 1.5 mg/kg day(-1) (n=5) or starch (n=5) for 2 weeks. Subcutaneous adipose was collected for adipocytes culture. IL-6 concentrations in plasma and adipocytes culture supernatant were measured by ELISA. RT-PCR was used to evaluate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma mRNA expression. The in vitro effect of atorvastatin on IL-6 production in adipocytes was observed.

Results: Two weeks atorvastatin treatment resulted in significant reduction of circulating IL-6 concentrations, which was associated with IL-6 secretion in adipocytes (r=0.849, P<0.01). Meanwhile mRNA expression of PPARgamma in adipocytes was intimately related to the IL-6 secretion in adipocytes (r=-0.900, P<0.01). Atorvastatin induced the decreased IL-6 secretion in dose-dependent manner.

Conclusions: Atorvastatin can inhibit IL-6 secretion in adipocytes possibly through upregulating PPARgamma, which may help to explain the anti-inflammatory effects of statins use.