Simvastatin and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) affects serum IgE and lung cytokines levels in sensitized mice

•Increased level of IL-13, TGF-β and IgE Leads to remodeling in asthma.•Common drugs are not able to reduce or reverse airway remodeling.•Treatment with BMSCs decreases IL-13, TGF-β and IgE.•The effect of simvastatin and BMSCs combination therapy is greater than simvastatin or BMSCs therapy alone.•This may be due to increase in BMSCs migration into the lung tissue by simvastatin. The effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and simvastatin combination therapy on serum total and specific IgE levels and lung IL-13 and TGF-β levels in sensitized mouse were examined. Control (n = 5), Sensitized (S), (n = 5), S + BMSC (n = 6), S + simvastatin (n = 6) and S + BMSC + simvastatin (n = 4) groups of BALB/c mice were studied. Mice were sensitized by ovalbumin. Sensitized mice were treated with a single intravenous injection of BMSCs (1 × 106) or daily intraperitoneal injection of simvastatin (40 mg/kg) or both BMSCs and simvastatin on the last week of challenge. Serum total and ovalbumin specific IgE levels as well as IL-13 and TGF-β levels in broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were evaluated. Serum total and specific IgE levels as well as lung IL-13 and TGF-β levels were significantly increased in S group compared to control group (P