Statin treatment reduces glomerular inflammation and podocyte damage in rat deoxycorticosterone-acetate-salt hypertension

Objective We examined the effects of fluvastatin treatment on the development of kidney injury in experimental deoxycorticosterone-acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent unilateral nephrectomy and received subcutaneous DOCA pellets as well as 1% NaCl for drinking. Simultaneously, rats were treated with 5 mg/kg per day fluvastatin, or solvent only for 6 weeks. Mean arterial pressure was measured intraarterially. Glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, cell proliferation, inflammation and podocyte damage were evaluated on kidney sections. Inflammatory markers were measured by real-time PCR. Results Mean arterial pressure was elevated in DOCA-salt-treated rats but unaltered by fluvastatin. Serum cholesterol was markedly elevated in DOCA-salt-treated rats and tended to be lower in fluvastatin-treated animals. Fluvastatin treatment decreased the mortality of DOCA-salt-treated rats. Urinary protein excretion, glomerular proliferation and macrophage infiltration as well as glomerulosclerosis were reduced by fluvastatin. Fluvastatin alleviated podocyte damage and glomerular osteopontin protein expression, which was localized in podocytes. On the contrary, interstitial fibrosis, inflammation and interstitial cell proliferation of DOCA-salt-treated rat kidneys were not influenced by fluvastatin. Conclusion Statin treatment reduces mortality and glomerular damage independent from blood pressure in a low-renin model of hypertensive nephrosclerosis. A reduction of podocyte damage and macrophage infiltration may explain the beneficial effects of fluvastatin. J Hypertens 27:376-385 (C) 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.