title: Effect of statins on the viability of macrophages and smooth muscle cells.
abstract: Because macrophages play an important role in the destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques, and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) contribute to plaque stability, selective clearance of macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques is a promising strategy for plaque stabilization. In the present study, we investigated the effects of fluvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin, and pravastatin on the viability of macrophages and SMCs. All statins, except pravastatin, induced cell death of J774A.1 macrophages after 24 hours, albeit with different sensitivity. The viability of rabbit aortic SMCs was hardly affected. Fluvastatin-induced macrophage cell death was characterized as apoptosis and could be reversed by isoprenoid intermediates of the mevalonate pathway. Peritoneal macrophages from male or female mice were much more resistant to statin-induced cell death. The high sensitivity of J774A.1 macrophages to statin-induced cell death was related to the strong 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity in these cells. Macrophage and SMC content of rabbit atherosclerotic plaques was not affected after in vitro treatment with fluvastatin or lovastatin for 3 days. In conclusion, fluvastatin, simvastatin, and lovastatin, but not pravastatin, can selectively induce apoptosis in J774A.1 macrophages, but not in SMCs, primary macrophages or rabbit atherosclerotic plaques. This effect was related to the degree of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity in the different cell types.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. valerie.croons@ua.ac.be
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Croons
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Meyer
authors.forename: Sander M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Houten
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Martinet
authors.forename: Hidde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bult
authors.forename: Arnold G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: Guido R Y
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: De Meyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases