Effect of pravastatin on bleomycin‐induced acute lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis

Summary 1. Pravastatin is best known for its antilipidemic action. Recent studies have shown that statins have immunomodulatory and anti‐inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to determine whether or not pravastatin can attenuate acute lung injury and fibrosis in a mouse model. 2. Bleomycin was given to C57BL6 mice through intratracheal instillation. Pravastatin was given through intraperitoneal injection. To study the effect of pravastatin on the early inflammatory phase and the late fibrotic phase, mice were killed on days 3, 7, 14 and 21. 3. Pravastatin attenuated the histopathological change of bleomycin‐induced lung injury and fibrosis. The accumulation of neutrophils and increased production of tumor necrosis factor‐α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were inhibited in the early inflammatory phase. Pravastatin effectively inhibited the increase of lung hydroxyproline content induced by bleomycin. Furthermore, pravastatin reduced the increased expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), RhoA and cyclin D1. The increased levels of TGF‐β1 and CTGF mRNA expression were also significantly inhibited by pravastatin. 4. Pravastatin effectively attenuated bleomycin‐induced lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Our results provide evidence for the therapeutic potential of pravastatin in the treatment of acute lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis.