Enhancement of membrane fluidity in cholesterol-poor endothelial cells pre-treated with simvastatin.
We examined the membrane fluidity of the cholesterol-poor bovine carotid artery endothelial cells (BAEC). Cholesterol-poor BAEC were obtained by treating the cells with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors under 10% low density lipoprotein (LDL)-deficient serum condition for 2 days. Simvastatin reduced the intracellular cholesterol content significantly at a concentration of 0.1 microgram/ml. The reduction in the cholesterol content was accompanied by the enhancement of the cell membrane fluidity which was measured by a photobleaching technique. Additional data suggested that the reduction in cholesterol content referred to the reduction in the proliferation of BAEC.
Morita
I
I
Department of Physiological Chemistry, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
Sato
I
I
Ma
L
L
Murota
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S
D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries; D002417:Cattle; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000494:pharmacology; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D019821:Simvastatin; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin