Influence of long-term treatment with pravastatin on the survival, evolution of cutaneous lesion and weight of animals infected by Leishmania amazonensis

Exp Parasitol. 2011 Mar;127(3):658-64. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2010.12.003. Epub 2010 Dec 19.

Abstract

The high toxicity of current drugs for treatment of leishmaniasis is a major hindrance for controlling the disease. Pravastatin is a well-known drug with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that may modulate host defense mechanisms against Leishmania. We evaluated the influence of prolonged pravastatin treatment on the survival of Leishmania amazonensis-infected animals (BALB/c, C57BL6 mice and Syrian hamsters), including weekly measurement of cutaneous lesions (footpad thickness) and weight. Pravastatin improved survival of Leishmania-infected BALB/c mice but not of infected C57BL6 mice or hamsters. On the 50th week of follow-up, 71% of pravastatin-treated Leishmania-infected BALB/c mice were alive against 29% of control group (p<0.01). Low footpad thickness was found on BALB/c pravastatin treated mice from the 14th week (p<0.05), and 20th week onward for C57BL6 treated mice. Pravastatin treatment decreased weight loss in Leishmania-infected C57BL6 mice and Syrian hamsters, but not infected BALB/c mice. Our results points to beneficial effects of pravastatin on the evolution of the disease in the murine leishmaniasis model.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Body Weight
  • Cricetinae
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Leishmania mexicana / drug effects*
  • Leishmania mexicana / immunology
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / drug therapy*
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / immunology
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / mortality
  • Male
  • Mesocricetus
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Pravastatin / pharmacology
  • Pravastatin / therapeutic use*
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Pravastatin