title: Simvastatin modulates TNFalpha-induced adhesion molecules expression in human endothelial cells.
abstract: Adhesion and transendothelial migration of leukocytes into the vascular wall is a crucial step in atherogenesis. Expression of cell adhesion molecules by endothelial cells plays a leading role in this process. We investigated the effect of simvastatin, an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase administered to reduce plasma levels of LDL-cholesterol, on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). We found the expression to be significantly inhibited by the drug in a time and concentration-dependent manner and to a greater extent in the case of VCAM-1 as compared with ICAM-1. In TNFalpha-stimulated HUVEC, simvastatin decreased VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA levels, inhibited TNFalpha-induced activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and enhanced expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). These effects were associated with reduction of adherence of monocytes and lymphocytes to HUVEC. The present findings suggest that the benefits of statins in vascular disease may include the inhibition of expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 through effects on NF-kappaB.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostic, Regional Center for Atherosclerosis Research, Pomeranian Medical University, ul. Powstańców Wlkp. 72, PL-70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zapolska-Downar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siennicka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaczmarczyk
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kołodziej
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naruszewicz
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D019821:Simvastatin