Simvastatin induced apoptosis and its effect on apoptosis-related gene expression in rat vascular smooth muscle cell

Author: Gang CHENG ¹ ; Jiang SHAN ; Ji MA ; Yu-Ping SHI
Author Information

1. The Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
From: Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2002;31(1):11-14
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of simvastatin on the apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and its effects on the expression of apoptosis-related genes. METHODS: The presence of apoptosis was detected by electron microscope and flow cytometry assessment of PI/Annexin V stain; The protein levels of Bax, Bel-2 and activation of caspase-3 were examined using Western blot technique. RESULTS: After treatment with 30 &mgr;mol/L simvastatin for 24 h, apoptosis were identified with electron microscope in VSMC and flow cytometry showed that rate of apoptosis in simvastatin group (35.5+/-5.8)% was singificantly higher than that in control group (15.1+/-5.0)%. Western blot analyses revealed that the apoptosis process was associated with upregulation of Bax protein and activation of caspase-3, but not with Bel-2 expression. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin can induce apoptosis in VSMC in associated with induction of bax and activation of caspase-3.