Estudo do efeito da atorvastatina na mucosites oral induzida por 5-fluorouracil em hamsters

Abstract

Oral mucositis (OM) is a frequent side effect and dose-limiting of cancer therapy, characterized by intense inflammatory mucosal reaction and formation of ulcers in oropharyngeal cavity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin (ATV) – cholesterol lowering drug with anti-inflammatory activity - in oral mucositis induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in Golden Sirian hamsters. Oral mucositis was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of 5-FU in the first and second days of experiment (60 and 40 mg/kg i.p., respectively), with subsequent excoriations of the cheek pouch mucosa on the fourth day. The animals were treated by intraperitoneal route (i.p.) with ATV 1, 5 or 10 mg/kg or saline or saline and 5% vol/vol ethanol 30 min before 5-FU injection and daily for 5 or 10 days. The animals were sacrificed on the 5th or 10th day and samples of cheek pouches and major vital organs were removed for histopathological analysis. The determination of TNF-α, IL-1β, nitrite, non-protein sulfhydryl group (NP-SH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay, immunohistochemistry for TNF-α, induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), NF-kB-p50, NF-kB-p50 NLS and the expression of NF-kB-p50 by Western Blot were other parameters evaluated in the samples collected from the oral mucosa of animals. Blood was collected for a leukogram, analysis of biochemical parameters and analysis of bacteremia. Atorvastatin at doses of 1 and 5 mg/kg reduced mucosal damage and inflammation, as well as the levels of cytokines, nitrite, and myeloperoxidase activity on the 5th and 10th day of OM. Moreover, ATV 1 and 5 mg/kg decreased the immunohistochemical staining for TNF-α, iNOS, NF-kB-p50, NF-kB-p50 NLS and expression of NF-kB-p50 of the cheek pouch mucosa on the 5th day of OM. ATV at 1 mg/kg increased cheek pouch NP-SH when compared to 5-FU groups on the 10th day of OM. The association of ATV 5 mg/kg and 5-FU decreased the survival rate, amplified the leukopenia of animals, increased transaminase serum levels and caused liver lesions. We also detected the presence of Gram negative bacillus in the blood of 100% of the animals treated with ATV 5 mg/kg + 5-FU. These results suggest that atorvastatin prevent mucosal damage and inflammation associated with 5-FU-induced OM, but the association of a higher dose of ATV with 5-FU induced hepatotoxicity, amplified leucopenia and bacteremia, which deserves attention and further research in humans.