目的　观察他汀类药物阿托伐他汀对心肌肥厚大鼠心肌及心肌炎性细胞因子的影响 ,探讨该类药物影响心肌肥厚可能涉及的作用机制。方法　用RT-PCR法和免疫组化法检测心肌细胞因子白细胞介素-1β(interleukin-1β,IL-1β) ,心调理素-1(car diotropin-1,CT-1)的表达,并观察心脏的病理学改变。结果　正常大鼠心肌无炎性细胞因子表达 ,压力负荷增加引起大鼠左心室心肌肥厚时 ,心肌炎性细胞因子IL-1β,CT-1的mRNA和蛋白质表达增加 ,阿托伐他汀可以降低左心室肥厚大鼠心肌IL-1β,CT-1的mRNA和蛋白质的表达 ,并使心脏重/体重值 ,左心室壁平均厚度 ,心肌细胞平均直径均明显降低。结论　阿托伐他汀可能通过发挥抗炎作用抑制压力负荷增加引起的心肌肥厚。

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of atorvastatin on cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting the expression of cytokine. METHODS Cardiac hypertrophy was produced by abdominal aortic banding (AB). Treatment with atorvastatin or saline was implemented 1 week before the operation and continued 4 weeks after the operation Myocardial cytokine expression was analyzed by both RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The ratio of heart to body weight and cardiac cytokine expression were markedly enhanced in AB rats The treatment of AB rats with atorvastatin significantly reduced myocardial cytokine interleukin-1β(IL-1β),Cardiotropin-1(CT-1) mRNA and protein expression ,and inhibited the increases of the heart to body weight radio, left ventricular wall thickness,cardiac myocyte diameter.The suppression of cardiac hypertrophy by atorvastatin treatment was accompanied by the decreased expression of brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) which was a molecular marker for cardiac hypertrophy. CONCLUSION Atorvastatin may regulate cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting the expression of cytokines in the heart.