Background: Some statins have been reported to suppress the immune system and increase the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene that plays a pivotal role in bone regeneration.
Methods: The effects of cerivastatin on skeletal reconstruction by vascularized bone allograft were investigated in a rat tibia-fibula graft model. After transplantation, the recipient rats were treated with vehicle, low-dose cerivastatin, high-dose cerivastatin, or cyclosporine A.
Results: Transplanted bones treated with low-dose cerivastatin and vehicle failed to unite with the recipient bones. In contrast, high-dose cerivastatin induced the bone union as effectively as cyclosporine A. Histologically, high-dose cerivastatin-treated transplanted bones were nonvital, but new bone formation occurred at the outer layer of the nonvital cortex.
Conclusion: These results indicate that statins could promote fracture healing. Because transplant recipients have the increased risks of osteoporotic fracture and hypercholesterolemia, statins may be a good choice in the treatment of these patients.