Atorvastatin mediates increases in intralesional BAX and BAK expression in human end-stage abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Chronic apoptosis activation may participate in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) expansion. Statin treatment slows AAA progression independent of cholesterol lowering. We hypothesized that Atorvastatin treatment alters apoptosis protein expression and activation in AAAs. Protein was isolated from the central and distal portions of end-stage human AAA tissue obtained during surgical repair from non-statin (NST) and Atorvastatin-treated (AT) patients. Expression was compared using immunoblots. Bcl-2 expression was unchanged but Bak (4-fold, p < 0.013) and Bax (3-fold, p < 0.035) expression was increased in AT (n = 12) versus NST (n = 15) patients. No cytochrome c release or caspase 3 activation was detected and Clusterin, GRP78, and BNIP1 expression was similar in NST and AT samples. Bcl-2 and Bax cDNA sequences from AAA tissue (n = 10) and the general population were identical. Thus, the increase in Bax and Bak in AT-treated AAAs did not activate the mitochondria or endoplasmic reticulum mediated apoptosis pathways. Bcl-2, Bax, and Bak have non-apoptosis related functions that include maintenance of endoplasmic reticulum (ER), homeostasis, and adaptation to stress. We speculate that Atorvastatin-mediated increases in Bax and Bak may positively affect their non-apoptosis related cell functions to account for the beneficial effect of statins to slow AAA expansion.
Schweitzer
Morris
M
Department of Endocrinology, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, 3755 chemin Côte Ste Catherine, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada. morris.schweitzer@mcgill.ca
Mitmaker
Benjamin
B
Obrand
Daniel
D
Sheiner
Nathan
N
Abraham
Cherrie
C
Dostanic
Stevan
S
Chalifour
Lorraine E
LE
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C494772:BAK1 protein, human; C494826:BAX protein, human; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; C000717247:HSPA5 protein, human; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D053148:Caspase 3