title: Atorvastatin prevents Plasmodium falciparum cytoadherence and endothelial damage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum parasitized red blood cell (PRBC) to human endothelial cells (EC) induces inflammatory processes, coagulation cascades, oxidative stress and apoptosis. These pathological processes are suspected to be responsible for the blood-brain-barrier and other organs' endothelial dysfunctions observed in fatal cases of malaria. Atorvastatin, a drug that belongs to the lowering cholesterol molecule family of statins, has been shown to ameliorate endothelial functions and is widely used in patients with cardiovascular disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of this compound on PRBC induced endothelial impairments was assessed using endothelial co-culture models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atorvastatin pre-treatment of EC was found to reduce the expression of adhesion molecules and P. falciparum cytoadherence, to protect cells against PRBC-induced apoptosis and to enhance endothelial monolayer integrity during co-incubation with parasites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results might suggest a potential interest use of atorvastatin as a protective treatment to interfere with the pathophysiological cascades leading to severe malaria.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, UMR S945, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, CHU-Pitié-Salpêtrière, 91 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France. zacharie.taoufiq@wanadoo.fr
authors.forename: Zacharie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Taoufiq
authors.forename: Paco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pino
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: N'dilimabaka
authors.forename: Issam
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arrouss
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Assi
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soubrier
authors.forename: Angelita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rebollo
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazier
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000469:parasitology*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin