Effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostatic epithelial RWPE-1 cells.
- Author:
Ming-gen YANG
;
Zhou-da ZHENG
;
Hai-li LIN
;
Zhi-ming ZHUANG
;
Tian-qi LIN
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Apoptosis; drug effects; Cell Proliferation; drug effects; Connexin 43; metabolism; Drug Administration Schedule; Epithelial Cells; drug effects; physiology; Humans; Hypolipidemic Agents; pharmacology; Male; Prostate; cytology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; metabolism; RNA, Messenger; metabolism; Simvastatin; pharmacology; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; metabolism
- From: National Journal of Andrology 2015;21(2):113-118
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostatic epithelial RWPE-1 cells.
METHODSRWPE-1 cells cultured in vitro were treated with simvastatin at 0, 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L for 24, 48, and 72 hours followed by determination of their proliferation by MTT assay, and their apoptosis by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and Cx43 were detected by fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.
RESULTSAfter 72 hours of treatment with simvastatin at 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L, the inhibition rates of the RWPE-1 cells were (21.07 ± 6.41)%, (34.87 ± 9.65)%, and (47.18 ± 10.88)%, respectively, significantly higher than (1.21 ± 0.54)% in the control group (P < 0.05) and in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the cell apoptosis rates were (0.066 ± 0.016)%, (0.126 ± 0.023)%, and (0.192 ± 0.025)%, respectively, remarkably higher than (0.015 ± 0.005)% in the control (P < 0.05) and also in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 were decreasing while those of Bax and Cx43 increasing with the increased concentration of simvastatin (P < 0.05). The expression of Cx43 was correlated negatively with that of Bcl-2 but positively with that of Bax.
CONCLUSIONSimvastatin inhibits the proliferation of prostate epithelial cells and induce their apoptosis by acting on the gap junctional intercellular communication.