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Standardized Study of Atorvastatin Possible Osteoarthritis Disease-Modifying Effect in Rats

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.