title: Atorvastatin antagonizes the visfatin-induced expression of inflammatory mediators via the upregulation of NF-κB activation in HCAECs.
abstract: The present study investigated whether atorvastatin antagonizes the visfatin-induced expression of inflammatory mediators in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs). Several analysis methods, such as reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis and H2DCFDA incubation, were used in the present study. The data showed that atorvastatin decreased the visfatin-induced expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in HCAECs. In addition, atorvastatin inhibited the visfatin-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in HCAECs. In addition, the present study found that atorvastatin inhibited the visfatin-activated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signal pathway by preventing extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation in HCAECs. Atorvastatin significantly inhibited visfatin-induced NF-κB activity via the upregulation of reactive oxygen species production. Atorvastatin, a visfatin antagonist (FK866) and an NF-κB inhibitor (BAY11-7082) decreased the visfatin-induced expression of inflammatory mediators via the upregulation of NF-κB activation in HCAECs. These results suggest that atorvastatin may inhibit the visfatin-induced upregulation of inflammatory mediators through blocking the NF-κB signal pathway. The findings of the present study provide a potential use for atorvastatin and visfatin in the pathogenesis of HCAEC dysfunction. This knowledge may contribute to the development of novel therapies for atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Kai-Lei
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ju-Ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan Universtiy, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan Universtiy, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ding-Biao
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xin-Gui
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Guo
keywords: atorvastatin; human coronary artery endothelial cells; nuclear factor-κB; visfatin