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Purpose: Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disorder and is associated with macrophages. Statin, a well-known lipid-lowering agent, has recently been noted for its anti-inflammatory effect on macrophage. This study was designed to evaluate the antiasthmatic effect of atorvastatin via modulation of macrophage activation by using an animal model of allergic asthma. Methods: Atorvastatin 40 mg/kg was given by gavage once a day for 3 days before challenge of ovalbumin (OVA); airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), airway inflammatory cells, and cytokines were evaluated in the murine asthma model. The direct effect of atorvastatin on the activation of macrophages in vitro was determined using the alveolar macrophage cell line CRL-2456. Results: Administration of atorvastatin reduced the numbers of total inflammatory cells, macrophages, and eosinophils as well as lung histology enhanced in the murine asthma model. AHR measured by enhanced pause was significantly reduced after atorvastatin administration in the murine asthma model (P<0.05). Atorvastatin administration resulted in the reduction in serum OVA-specific IgE levels and the increase in serum OVA-specific IgG2a levels (P<0.05). The mRNA levels of Ccr3, Il-17, and Muc5ac enhanced by OVA challenge were decreased by treatment with atorvastatin (P<0.05). Along with these improvement in allergic inflammatory changes, the population of CD11c–CD206+ macrophages as well as the expression of Ym-1 and Relm-α in the lungs were reduced with atorvastatin (P<0.05). In vitro test with CRL-2456 showed that atorvastatin reduced the expression of Cd206, Arg-1, and Fgf-2 induced by IL-4 stimulation (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study highlighted the antiasthmatic effect of atorvastatin on the suppression of M2 macrophage activation in allergic asthma.
