title: Simvastatin and atorvastatin enhance gene expression of collagen type 1 and osteocalcin in primary human osteoblasts and MG-63 cultures.
abstract: To clarify the mechanism of the stimulatory effect of statins on bone formation, we have assessed the effect of simvastatin and atorvastatin on osteoblast activity by analysing cell proliferation, as well as collagen, osteocalcin, and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) gene expression in primary human osteoblast (hOB) and MG-63 cell line cultures. Explants of bone from patients without any metabolic disease under orthopedic hip procedures were used to obtain hOB. Cell cultures were established, synchronized, and different concentrations of simvastatin or atorvastatin were added (10(-9) M, 10(-8) M, 10(-7) M, 10(-6) M) during the experiment. Cell proliferation was analyzed after 24 h. Collagen polypeptide alpha1 type 1 (COL1A1) gene expression, osteocalcin, and BMP2 expression levels were quantified by real-time PCR after 24 h incubation with statins. There was a statistically significant decrease in cell proliferation related to simvastatin or atorvastatin addition at all concentrations in primary hOB compared with those not treated. A significant increase in COL1A1, osteocalcin, and BMP2 gene expression was detected when hOB cultures were treated with simvastatin or atorvastatin at different concentrations. Similar but less significant effects were found on MG-63 cells. After statin treatment we observed both an arrest of proliferation in hOB cells and an increase in collagen, osteocalcin, and BMP2 gene expression, consistent with a stimulatory effect towards mature osteoblast differentiation. These findings support the bone-forming effect of statins, probably through the BMP2 pathway.
authors.affiliation: URFOA, IMIM, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Gaspa
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Nogues
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Enjuanes
authors.forename: Joan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Monllau
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blanch
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carreras
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mellibovsky
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grinberg
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balcells
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Díez-Perez
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pedro-Botet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012516:Osteosarcoma; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C525718:BMP2 protein, human; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D024042:Collagen Type I; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D015675:Osteocalcin; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin