title: Differential effects of different statins on endothelin-1 gene expression and endothelial NOS phosphorylation in porcine aortic endothelial cells.
abstract: It has been reported that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) produce a variety of cardiovascular protective effects independent of their ability to lower total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Recent studies have also reported that statins produce pleiotropic effects through improved endothelial function, enhanced fibrinolysis, and antithrombotic actions. In the present study, we examined the effects of pitavastatin, pravastatin, atorvastatin, and cerivastatin on endothelin (ET)-1 production in cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs). Treatment with cerivastatin but not pitavastatin, pravastatin, or atorvastatin decreased basal and TNF-alpha-stimulated ET-1 release from PAECs in a dose-dependent manner (1-10 microM). Northern blot analysis showed that cerivastatin markedly suppressed prepro ET-1 mRNA expression in both conditions. In addition, these inhibitory effects of cerivastatin on ET-1 release and prepro ET-1 mRNA expression were completely abolished by simultaneous treatment with 200 microM mevalonate. Furthermore, cerivastatin did not have any effects on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein levels, but induced eNOS phosphorylation at Ser1177. From these findings, it is most likely that cerivastatin suppresses ET-1 production, possibly through an increase in eNOS activity and the subsequent nitric oxide production in PAECs. These findings also suggest that cerivastatin may have beneficial effects on ET-1-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Osaka University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 4-20-1 Nasahara, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-1094, Japan.
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohkita
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugii
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ka
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Tatsuhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takaoka
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsumura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017035:Pravastatin; D011725:Pyridines; D011758:Pyrroles; D011804:Quinolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D011758:Pyrroles; D011804:Quinolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000069059:Atorvastatin; C086276:cerivastatin; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D017035:Pravastatin; C108475:pitavastatin