Atorvastatin may reduce pulmonary injury and fibrosis, according to scientists.
Giving paraquat to rats creates an experimental form of pulmonary fibrosis, since this chemical — used in the past as a weed killer — causes damage to the lungs. The scientists, led by Dr. Mohammad Javad Khodayar of the School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, found that both pre-treatment and treatment with atorvastatin after exposing the rats to paraquat helped with symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis. Specifically, inflammatory cell responses were reduced, as well as collagen content in lung tissue — a marker of fibrosis.
