Simvastatin attenuates the activity of matrix metalloprotease-9 in aneurysmal aortic tissue.
To investigate whether statins reduce the concentration of MMP-9 in the aortic wall, we randomised patients undergoing elective open repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) to a pre-operative course of either simvastatin or placebo. MMPs in aortic biopsies were measured using gelatin zymography. Although recruitment closed early because of increasing statin use among eligible patients, with only 21 patients we demonstrated a 40% reduction in MMP-9 levels in the AAA wall in patients randomised to simvastatin. This provides a possible molecular mechanism to explain the reportedly beneficial effects of statins to slow AAA growth.
Evans
J
J
Department of Surgery, University Hospitals of Leicester, UK. jev2@hotmail.com
Powell
J T
JT
Schwalbe
E
E
Loftus
I M
IM
Thompson
M M
MM
D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures
D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9