title: Statins contribute to enhancement of the number and the function of endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether fluvastatin augments the number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), and promotes EPCs proliferation, migration and adhesion. Total mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. The cells were then plated on fibronectin-coated culture dishes. After being cultured for 7 d, the attached cells were stimulated with fluvastatin (final concentrations: 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 micromol/L), simvastatin (1 micromol/L) or a vehicle for the respective time points (6, 12, 24 and 48 h). EPCs were characterized as adherent cells double positive for DiLDL-uptake and lectin binding by direct fluorescent staining under a laser scanning confocal microscope. EPCs were further documented by demonstrating the expression of KDR, VEGFR-2 and AC133 with flow cytometry. EPCs proliferation, migration and in vitro vasculogenesis activity were assayed by MTT assay, modified Boyden chamber assay and in vitro vasculogenesis kit, respectively. EPCs adhesion assay was performed by replating it on fibronectin-coated dishes, and the adherent cells were then counted. In addition, we also studied EPCs culture assay of peripheral blood from fluvastatin-treated animals in vivo. Incubation of isolated human MNCs with fluvastatin dose- and time-dependently increased the number of EPCs, while reached the maximum 24 h after the administration at 1 micromol/L, (2.5-fold increase, P<0.05). Moreover, treatment of rats with fluvastatins elevated the number of EPCs (3-fold increase, P<0.05), thus extending the in vitro data. In addition, fluvastatin also promoted EPC proliferation, migration, adhesion and in vitro vasculogenesis in a concentration-dependent manner. The effects of fluvastatin on EPCs were compared with those of simvastatin at the same concentration (1 micromol/L), with a result of no statistical difference. The results of the present study define a novel mechanism of the action of statins: the augmentation of EPCs with enhanced functional activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovasology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Qian-Min
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Jun-Zhu
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xing-Xiang
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yun-Peng
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Shang
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D007211:Indoles; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin