Effect of Aorvastatin on the VSMC Proliferation and HO-1 Expression

Objective To study the effect of atorvastatin on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC) and the expression of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1). Methods VSMC cultured from SD rats were cultured by enzymatic dissociation methods.The purity of cultured VSMC was assessed morphyologically and confirmed by immunocytochemical staining for α-actin.Subcultures between 4 and 6 were used in the study.Insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) was used to stimulate VSMC proliferation.The alive cell counting by tetrazolium dye-reduction assay(MTT) were used to determine the effect of arorvastatin on VSMC proliferation at different concentration(0,0.01,0.1,1,10 μmol/L),the same methods were used to do with 10 μmol/L atorvastatin in combination with ZnPPⅨ.The level of HO-1mRNA were assessed by the method of RT-PCR. Results Proliferation of VSMC were decreased with the increase of atorvastatin concentration.ZnPPⅨ,a special inhibitor of HO-1,could partially reverse the inhibition of atorvastatin.The increase of the expression in HO-1(IGF-1) was dependent on the dose of atorvastatin. Conclusion Atrovastatin could inhibit VSMC proliferation and induce the expression of HO-1.Inducing HO-1 expression was one of the mechanisms responsible for atorvastatin inhibiting VSMC proliferation.