Lovastatin increases nitric oxide synthesis in IL-1β-stimulated smooth muscle cells
10.3760/j.issn:0366-6999.2001.11.001
- VernacularTitle:洛伐他汀增加受白细胞介素-1β刺激的平滑肌细胞一氧化氮合成
- Author:
Hong CHEN
1
;
Yan XING
;
Ruhui LIU
Author Information
1. 北京大学医学部第二临床医学院(北京人民医院)
- Keywords:
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor;
inducible nitric oxide synthase;
atherosclerosis
- From:
Chinese Medical Journal
2001;114(11):1123-1127
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective Nitric oxide(NO)production by inducible NO synthase(Inos)may play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.Although lovastatin has been shown to reduce the progression of atherosclerosis,it is not known whether it regulates NO production.We investigated the effects of lovastatin on NO synthesis and the mechanisms by which lovastatin exerts its effects in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.Methods Primary cultures of the vascular smooth muscle cells were obtained from the media of the thoracic aorta of Sprague Dawley rats(200 - 250 g).Nitrite levels in the culture medium of rat vascular smooth muscle cells were determined colorimetrically.Results Lovastatin(10-5 mol/L)significantly increased interieukin-1β(IL-1β,10 ng/Ml)-induced nitrite accumulation in a time(0- 24 hours)-dependent manner.Exogenous mevalonate and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate completely reversed the stimulatory effects of lovastatin on nitrite production.Furthermore,inhibition of Rho by C3 exoenzyme mimicked the increase in IL-1β-induced nitrite accumulation induced by lovastatin in the vascular smooth muscle cells.Conclusion These results demonstrate that lovastatin up-regulates NO formation in rat vascular smooth muscle cells stimulated by IL-1β,and the effect may be associated with the inhibition of Rho activity.
