Targeting proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, TGF-β1 and STAT-3 by rosuvastatin and ubiquinone to ameliorate trastuzumab cardiotoxicity

The aim of this study was to assess the possible modulatory effects of rosuvastatin and/or ubiquinone on trastuzumab (TRZ)-induced cardiotoxicity in mice. One hundred and twenty mice were divided into six equal groups as follows: control group; TRZ group; TRZ + carboxymethyl cellulose group; TRZ + rosuvastatin group; TRZ + Ubiquinone group and TRZ + rosuvastatin + Ubiquinone group. Serum creatine kinase (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), troponin I and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) were measured. Also, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), interleukin 6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 (STAT-3) were determined. Also, echocardiography was performed. Parts of the heart were subjected to histopathological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic examination. Administration of rosuvastatin and/or ubiquinone to TRZ-treated mice induced significant increase in tissue GPx, CAT and STAT-3 with significant decrease in serum CK-MB, LDH, troponin I, NT-pro BNP, tissue MDA, TGF-β1 and IL-6 and improved the histopathological, immunohistochemical, echocardiographic and electron microscopic changes compared to the group that received TRZ alone. These changes were significant in rosuvastatin/ubiquinone combination group compared to the use of each of these drugs alone. In conclusion, rosuvastatin/ubiquinone combination may represent a new therapeutic modality to ameliorate TRZ-induced cardiotoxicity.

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