Effect of atorvastatin on the production of interleukin-18 and proliferation of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by ox-LDL

Objective:To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on the production of interleukin-18(IL-18)and proliferation of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)activated by oxidized low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL).Method:HUVECs Cultured in vitro at passage 3 to 9 were used for experiment.There were three groups:①control group,②Ox-LDL groups(100 mg/L),③Ox-LDL +atorvastatin groups.In ox-LDL atorvastatin group cells were firstly incubated with 0.01,0.05,0.1,0.5,1 μmol/L atorvastatin respectively for 4 h,then incubated with 100 mg/L Ox-LDL for 24 h.IL-18 in supernatant medium was detected by cell ELISA and cell proliferation was measured by MTT colorimetric assay.Result:Compared with control group,ox-LDL(100 mg/L)could inhibit the proliferation of HUVECs(P0.01).Atorvastatin could dose-dependently enhance the proliferation of HUVECs activated by Ox-LDL(P0.05,P0.01).HUVECs didn't release IL-18 without stimulation.ox-LDL(100 mg/L)stimulated the production of IL-18 by HUVECs.Atorvastatin(0.05,0.1,0.5,1 μmol/L)could inhibit the production of IL-18 in HUVECs activated by Ox-LDL(P0.05,P0.01),but not in 0.01 μmol/L(P0.05).The inhibitory effect was dose-dependent.Conclusion:Atorvastatin can obviously inhibited the production of IL-18 in HUVECs and enhanced the proliferation of HUVECs activated by Ox-LDL,which might improve the impaired endothelial cell beyond lipid regulation function.