Aims: To evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of using non-
cholesterol lowering
dose of
atorvastatin (AS) on
skin allograft survival and on
tumor growth in
mice . Study
Design: Experimental Study . Place and Duration of Study Department of Experimental
Pathology ,
Immunology and
Microbiology ,
Faculty of
Medicine , American
University of Beirut; 2011-2012.
Methodology: BALB/c
mice were transplanted with
skin allografts from C57BL/6
mice and given either AS alone or in combination with
immunosuppressive agents . Average
survival days of
skin allografts were recorded and
serum levels of
interleukin-1 β (
IL-1 β) and
interferon -γ (IFN-γ) were quantified. BALB/c
mice and C57BL/6
mice were challenged intraperitoneally with B16F10
melanoma cancer cells (
cancer cell line syngeneic to C57BL/6
mice ) and were then treated with AS. They were observed regularly for
tumor growth .
Results: The results indicated that in
transplant mice AS given alone or in combination with
immunosuppressive agents prolonged
allograft survival time through noncholesterol lowering mechanisms in spite of a non-significant change in
serum cytokine levels. Furthermore, AS
treatment enhanced
tumor growth in C57BL/6
mice and promoted
tumor growth in BALB/C
mice .
Conclusion: It can be speculated that AS down expresses TLR and modifies MHC presentation resulting in hindering the generation of an innate and
adaptive immune response .