title: Simvastatin acts as an inhibitor of interferon gamma-induced cycloxygenase-2 expression in human THP-1 cells, but not in murine RAW264.7 cells.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a key inflammatory response molecule, and associated with many immune functions of monocytes/macrophages. Particularly, interferon gamma (IFNgamma)-induced COX-2 expression appears in inflammatory conditions such as viral infection and autoimmune diseases. Recently, statins have been reported to show variable effects on COX-2 expression, and on their cell and species type dependences. Based on the above description, we compared the effect of simvastatin on IFNgamma-induced COX-2 expression in human monocytes versus murine macrophages. In a result, we found that simvastatin suppresses IFNgamma-induced COX-2 expression in human THP-1 monocytes, but rather, potentiates IFNgamma-induced COX-2 expression in murine RAW264.7 macrophages. However, signal transducer and activator of transcription 1/3 (STAT1/3), known as a transcription factor on COX-2 expression, is inactivated by simvastatin in both cells. Our findings showed that simvastatin is likely to suppress IFNgamma-induced COX-2 expression by inhibiting STAT1/3 activation in human THP-1 cells, but not in murine RAW264.7 cells. Thus, we concluded that IFNgamma-induced COX-2 expression is differently regulated by simvastatin depending on species specific mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Seok
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong Jae
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Cheolhee
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Yun-Song
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chung-Gyu
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang-Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Myung-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051940:B7-2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C491590:Socs1 protein, mouse; C491411:Socs3 protein, mouse; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019821:Simvastatin; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human