title: Effect of atorvastatin on ApoE and ApoC-I synthesis and secretion by THP-1 macrophages.
abstract: Apolipoprotein (apo) E and C-I are plasma apolipoproteins that have been implicated in the etiology of atherosclerosis and obesity, respectively. Both proteins are synthesized and secreted by macrophages, though pharmacological regulation of their production is poorly understood. The authors compared the effect of 2 HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, atorvastatin and cerivastatin, on the synthesis and secretion of apoE and apoC-I by THP-1 macrophages. Atorvastatin reduced medium apoE and cellular apoE mRNA of PMA-activated THP-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner (-24% and -22%, respectively, at 1-micromol/L, P < 0.01). ApoC-I in the medium was also reduced by atorvastatin in a dose-dependent manner, though to a lesser extent (-15% at 1-micromol/L, P < 0.05). Cerivastatin similarly reduced medium apoE (-20% at 1-micromol/L, P < 0.05) and cellular apoE mRNA (-31% at 1-micromol/L, P < 0.05), and significantly lowered cellular apoC-I mRNA (-15%, P < 0.05), but not apoC-I in the medium. In experiments with THP-1 macrophages loaded with cholesterol (ie, 24-hour incubation with acetyl-LDL), atorvastatin and cerivastatin (1-micromol/L) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced both medium apoE (-30% and -25%, respectively) and cellular apoE mRNA (-25% and -17%, respectively). A lower and less consistent effect was observed on medium apoC-I (-6% and -18%, respectively) and cellular apoC-I mRNA (-13% and -19%, respectively). These data demonstrate that statins have the capacity to reduce the synthesis and secretion of both apoE and apoC-I in THP-1 macrophages loaded or unloaded with cholesterol.
authors.affiliation: Hyperlipidemia and Atherosclerosis Research Group, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, 110 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, Canada H2W 1R7.
authors.forename: Lucia Nassi
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Castilho
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chamberland
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boulet
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davignon
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bernier
mesh_terms: D053302:Apolipoprotein C-I; D001056:Apolipoproteins C / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D053302:Apolipoprotein C-I; D001056:Apolipoproteins C; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin