Effect of pravastatin on the proliferation and cytokine synthesis in activated VSMC

Objective To investigate the effect of pravastatins of different concentrations on the proliferation and cytokine synthesis in activated dog vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) under micro-inflammation state in vitro. Methods VSMC proliferation was tested by MTT assay and the concentration of IL-6 and TNF-α was measured by ELISA assay. Results The proliferation was significantly inhibited in VSMCs treated by pravastatin of 100, 500 μmol/L and the synthesis of IL-6 was significantly inhibited in VSMCs treated by pravastin of 10,100, 500 μmol/L for 24 h(P0.05). The proliferation and synthesis of IL-6 was significantly inhibited in all concentrations for 48 h. The inhibitory effects of pravastin of 100, 500 μmol/L were larger than 10 μmol/L(P0.05). Pravastatin had no significant effect on the synthesis of TNF-α(P0.05). Conclusion Pravastatin of certain concentrations could inhibit the proliferation and synthesis of IL-6 synthesis of vascular smooth muscle cells, and this effect may be related with dose and time.