01) (Figure 5B). Statins have been found to decrease the up regulation of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells in several models of inflammation [20–22]. Because we observed a dose-dependent

reduction in neutrophil influx, yet only mice on the HSD had lower production of the neutrophil chemoattractant KC, we went on to assess whether statins were reducing neutrophil infiltration by modulating the upregulation of adhesion molecules. In agreement with the observed reduction in neutrophils influx, mice receiving statins had a strong dose-dependent reduction in the protein levels of ICAM-1 present www.selleckchem.com/products/VX-680(MK-0457).html in the lungs prior to infection with S. pneumoniae (Control versus LSD, P = 0.04; Control versus HSD, P = 0.004) (Figure 6A). Whereas at 24 hpi, only mice on the HSD continued to have decreased protein levels of ICAM-1 in the lungs (P = 0.02) (Figure 6B). Taken together these findings suggest that statins exert a dose-dependent effect to reduce neutrophil infiltration during pneumococcal pneumonia by reducing neutrophil chemotaxis and transcytosis without suppressing pro-inflammatory mediators required to enhance antibacterial defense mechanism. Selleckchem Birinapant Figure 6 Statins decrease ICAM-1 protein expression prior to and following infection with S. pneumoniae. Lungs from mice on Control,

Low, and High statin diet (n = 6/group) were examined for protein expression of ICAM-1 prior to and 24 h following intratracheally infection with 1 X 105 cfu by see more western blot analysis of whole lung protein lysates (n = 3/group for uninfected and n = 6/group for infected mice). Mice receiving statins had significantly less ICAM-1 protein levels present in the lungs both A) prior to and B) following infection. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. Statistics were determined by a two-tailed student’s t-test. P < 0.05 was considered significant in comparison

to Control fed mice. Surivival of infected mice on statins Finally, we sought to directly test if prophylactic statin therapy improved disease outcomes in a clinically relevant infection model. Since individuals with CAP receive antimicrobials, we the tested for survival of mice in a model where beginning at 48 hpi mice received ampicillin at 12 h intervals. Despite the protective effects observed above, mice on LSD or HSD had equivalent survival over time as controls (Figure 7). Thus, the overall protective effects of statins were modest and may not necessarily impact disease outcomes in humans. Figure 7 Survival of simvastatin fed mice following infection with S. pneumoniae . Kaplan–Meier plot demonstrating percent survival of challenged mice. Mice on Control (n = 19), Low (n = 19) or High (n = 20) diet were challenged intratracheally with 1 X 105 cfu. After 48 h ampicillin (80 mg/kg) was administered every twelve hours. Significance was determined by Log-Rank test.