title: Statin inhibits interferon-gamma-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells.
abstract: Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, known as statins, are widely used for primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery atherosclerosis. Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is multistep processes where transendothelial migration of various leukocytes including monocytes is a crucial step. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) contributes in this process by activating macrophages and T-lymphocytes, and by inducing adhesion molecules in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. In this study we investigated the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in transformed endothelial cell line ECV304 cells as influenced by lovastatin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IFN-gamma. Results show that lovastatin suppresses expression of ICAM-1 by inhibiting the IFN-gamma-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) p44/p42-STAT1 signaling pathway. In cells treated with lovastatin and IFN-gamma, ICAM-1 was expressed at a lower level than in cells treated with IFN-gamma alone. However, lovastatin does not reduce TNF-alpha induced expression of ICAM-1. A similar result was observed in cells treated with the MEKK inhibitor PD98059 and IFN-gamma. Cis-acting DNA sequence elements were identified in the 5'-flanking region of the ICAM-1 promoter that mediate inhibition by lovastatin; these sequences map to the IFN-gamma activated site which also binds the STAT1 homodimer. However, lovastatin did not inhibit IFN-gamma-mediated induction of the Y701 phosphorylated form of STAT1. But lovastatin does inhibit the IFN-gamma-mediated phosphorylation of ERK1/ERK2 (T202/Y204) and S727 phosphorylation of STAT1. TNF-alpha does not induce phosphorylation of ERK1/ERK2 and S727 in ECV304 and smooth muscle cells. The results provide the evidences that statins may have beneficial effects by inhibiting IFN-gamma action in atherosclerotic process
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejon 301-721, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo Kyun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: In Kyu
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyokyung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jae Mi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Ho
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki Cheol
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Kun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Heung Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Ro
authors.forename: Minho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494081:Stat1 protein, rat; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008148:Lovastatin; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases