[Effect of simvastatin on the proliferation of human omental preadipocytes and caspase-3 expression].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of simvastatin on the cell cycle and caspase-3 expression in human omental preadipocytes. METHODS: The preadipocytes were randomly divided into a blank group, a 10(-5) mol/L simvastatin group, and a 10(-4) mol/L simvastatin group. Each group was incubated with different concentrations of simvastatin for 48 hours. MTT method was used to analyze the effect of simvastatin on the proliferation. Distribution of the cell cycle was measured by flow cytometric. Caspase-3 expression was examined by cyto- immunochemistry. RESULTS: After being induced to differentiate for 16 days the human omental preadipocytes developed to mature adipocyte penotypes with lipid droplet. Simvastatin 10(-4) mol/L had significant anti-proliferation effect. Flow cytometric analysis showed the cell cycle was blocked in G0/G1 phase and caspase-3 positive cells increased dramatically. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin may block the cells in G0/G1 phase, and induce caspase-3 expression, which may trigger apoptosis.