Efeito da Atorvastatina na reabsorção óssea inflamatória em ratas com osteoporose induzida por glicocorticóide e submetidas à periodontite

Abstract

Periodontal disease (PD) is an inflammatory disease that can be amplified by several systemic conditions specially osteoporosis. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is an important cause of secondary osteoporosis. Atorvastatin (ATV), a cholesterol-lowering drug, has shown important pleiotropic effects such as antiinflammatoryand bone anabolic activities that may be interesting to prevent bone loss in GIOP and PD. This study evaluatesthe effects of the ATV on alveolar bone loss in rats with GIOPsubjected to PD. GIOP was induced by administration of dexamethasone 7 mg/kg once/week for 5 weeks (i.m.). PD was induced by ligature placement around the maxillary left second molar of rats per 11 days. Groups of 6 animals received oral saline or ATV (27 mg/kg/day) until the euthanasia. Alveolar bone loss was determined by macroscopic and radiographic analysis. Radiographic density (RD) of femur was analyzed. Gingival TNF-α and IL-1β levels were investigated. The serum levels of transaminases, total alkaline phosphatase (TALP) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) were evaluated. ATV prevented alveolar bone loss, which was corroborated by RD reduction in hemimaxillae and femur, showingananti-resorptive effect. ATV reduced the gingival levels of TNF-α and IL-1βand reversed the systemic leukocytosis and neutrophilia. No difference was found in transaminases serum levels. ATV (27 mg/kg) increased the activity of TALP and BALP when compared to GIOP+PD group,confirming its anabolic bone effect.This data suggest that ATV prevents alveolar bone loss in GIOP+PD, which may be mediated by its anti-resorptive, anti-inflammatory and anabolic bone effects.