Effect of atorvastatin on cyclooxygenase-2 expression in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells with the ox-LDL

Objective To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) with the ox-LDL.Methods HUVECs were cultured in endothelial basal medium.Ox-LDL were added into HUVECs,when it reached the confluence state.while there was no intervention in the control group.After 24 hours,HUVECs were cocultured with the ox-LDL and atorvastatin(1 μmol/L,10 μmol/L and 30 μmol/L)for another 24 hours.Expressions of COX-2 mRNA was determinded by reverse transcription-polymeras chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Expression of COX-2 mRNA could be induced by Ox-LDL.Atorvastatin of different concentrations could suppress COX-2 mRNA expression induced by ox-LDL,which had concentration-dependent character(P0.05).Conclusions Inflammatory factors COX-2 in endothelial cell are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.Atorvastatin can decrease the expression of COX-2 mRNA in ox-LDL-induced HUVECs.