Efficiency of hepatocyte pretreatment with coenzyme Q10 against statin toxicity

Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2014 Mar;65(1):101-8. doi: 10.2478/10004-1254-65-2014-2398.

Abstract

Statins are potent cholesterol-lowering drugs that can have serious adverse effects on the muscles and liver. The aim of our in vitro study was to establish the protective effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, in its optimal dose of 200 μmol L⁻¹) against cytotoxicity induced by atorvastatin, simvastatin, and lovastatin in isolated rat hepatocytes by observing parameters such as cell death, reactive oxygen species formation, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cellular reduced and oxidised glutathione content. Our findings have shown that pretreatment with CoQ10 was effective in reducing the toxic effects of statins in rat hepatocytes. This work demonstrates that the addition of CoQ10 to statin treatment regimens may protect hepatocytes (and also other types of cells) from statin-induced injuries and alleviate their side effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / toxicity*
  • Atorvastatin / toxicity
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects*
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism*
  • Hepatocytes / pathology
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / toxicity*
  • Lethal Dose 50
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Lovastatin / toxicity
  • Male
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Protective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Simvastatin / toxicity
  • Ubiquinone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Ubiquinone / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Protective Agents
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Ubiquinone
  • Lovastatin
  • Atorvastatin
  • Simvastatin
  • coenzyme Q10