Effect of Lovastatin on the Expression of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 in the Cultured Human Mesangial Cells

AIM:To observe the effect of lovastatin(statin) on the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) in the cultured h uma n mesangial cells and the secretion of fibronectin,laminin and type IV collage n proteins from them METHODS: The human mesangial cells was respecti vely cultur ed in the medium with low glucose(5 6 mmol/L) and high glucose(30 mmol/L) T he expression of IGF-1 mRNA in mesangial cells were observed by RT-PCR method an d the concentrations of fibronectin,laminin and type IV collagen in the supernat a nt were determined by ELISA and radioimmunoassay methods The extracelluar matr i x(ECM) proteins in the supernatant were detected again after addition of lovasta tin,cilazapril and both of them on different stimulation time and dosage Th e IGF-1 mRNA expression of mesangial cells were also detected on 48 h after stimu l ation of lovastatin(10 μmol/L) and cilazapril(10 μmol/L) RESULTS: High glucos e induced over proliferation of mesangial cells,excessive IGF-1 mRNA expressi on and the increased secretion of fibronection,laminin and type IV collagen of m e sangial cells Both lovastatin and cilazapril decreased the cell proliferation , the IGF-1 mRNA expression and the level of above extracellular matrix(ECM) pro t eins Lovastatin has more suppressive effect on the expression of IGF-1 mRNA th an cilazapril But combination of them has no more suppressive effect than that single of them CONCLUSIONS: High glucose stimulates the cultured hu man mesangial c e lls to excessively express the IGF-1 and ECM proteins The high glucose-induc ed changes can be suppressed by lovastatin and cilazapril The results suggest tha t statin has a direct cellular impact on the expression of IGF-1 of mesangial ce l ls They also indicate that statin have potential preventive action for diabeti c nephropathy