title: Beta4 integrin is involved in statin-induced endothelial cell death.
abstract: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have been shown to inhibit angiogenesis. The molecular mechanism mediating the anti-endothelial activities of statins remains unclear. The present study demonstrated that the antiangiogenic effect of atorvastatin (ATV) was associated with endothelial death. Molecular profiling data identified a 29-fold upregulation of beta4 integrin mRNA. Western blot and flow cytometry confirmed robust increases of total and cell-surface beta4 integrin. Blockage of beta4 integrin activity by antagonizing antibody abrogated ATV-induced endothelial death. The endothelial death and beta4 integrin upregulation by ATV could be reversed by intermediate metabilites of the HMG-CoA reductase pathway mevalonate or GGPP, but not by FPP, suggesting that these effects were results of specific inhibition of the pathway. These data indicate that the HMG-CoA reductase might represent an important survival pathway in angiogenic endothelial cells and thus, a potential target for antiangiogenic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Caisheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Xiaoning
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Mengfeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D039663:Integrin beta4 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D039663:Integrin beta4; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin