NK-104, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, reduces osteopontin expression by rat aortic smooth muscle cells

Osteopontin b and c isoforms: Molecular Candidates Associated with Leukemic Stem Cell Chemoresistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Despite impressive advances in therapeutic approaches, long-term survival with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is low as a result of treatment resistance and frequent relapse. Among multitude oncogenic proteins involved in acquisition of a chemo-resistanr phenotype, osteopontin (OPN) recently has attracted marked attention. In spite of the well-defined association between OPN expression and cure rate with solid tumors, there is a scarcity of information on any role of this protein in AML cases. Based on the critical role of OPN in cell survival, it seems reasonable to hypothesize that isoform expression levels may impact on regulation of apoptosis in AML cells in response to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs and its relation to relapse. To investigate associations between induction of apoptosis and OPN isoform expression, two distinct AML cell lines (KG-1 as a leukemic stem cell model and U937) were treated with chemotherapy drugs, and cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated by MTT and Annexin/PI assay. After determination of appropriate drug doses, mRNA expression levels of OPN isoforms and OPN-related genes were investigated. Our results demonstrated for the first time that acquired up-regulation of OPN-b and c isoforms might prevent conventional chemotherapy regimen-induced apoptosis in AML cells. Moreover, upregulation of OPN-b and c in AML cells appears concurrent with upregulation of AKT/VEGF/CXCR4/STAT3/ IL-6 gene expression. To sum up, this study suggests that OPN-b and c isoforms could be considered as unique beneficial molecular biomarkers associated with leukemic stem cell chemoresistance. Hence, they have potential as molecular candidates for detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) and determination of remission in AML patients. Further evaluation with quantative real time PCR on patient samples for confirmation appears warranted.

Induction of Osteopontin by Dengue Virus-3 Infection in THP-1 Cells: Inhibition of the Synthesis by Brefelamide and Its Derivative

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional matricellular protein produced by a broad range of cells including osteoclasts, macrophages, T cells, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells. OPN modulates various physiological and pathological events such as inflammation, wound healing, and bone formation and remodeling. Dengue virus (DENV) infection causes an increase in plasma OPN levels, which is correlated with the severity of symptoms and coagulation abnormalities. DENV infection also induces OPN gene expression in human macrophages. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of brefelamide and its methyl ether derivative on DENV-3 by measuring changes in OPN levels in human THP-1 and 293T cell lines infected at different multiplicities of infection and post-infection time points. OPN mRNA expression and viral RNA were detected by reverse transcriptase quantitative real-time PCR, whereas protein level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found that viral copy number was higher in 293T than in THP-1 cells. However, THP-1 constitutively expressed higher levels of OPN mRNA and protein, which were enhanced by DENV-3 infection. Brefelamide and its derivative suppressed OPN production in DENV-3 infected THP-1 cells; the effective doses of these compounds had no effect on uninfected cells, indicating low cytotoxicity. These results suggest that brefelamide and its methyl ether derivative have therapeutic effects in preventing inflammation, coagulopathy, and fibrinolysis caused by OPN upregulation induced by DENV-3 infection.

Simvastatin up-regulates adenosine deaminase and suppresses osteopontin expression in COPD patients through an IL-13-dependent mechanism

Background

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) and osteopontin (OPN) may play opposing roles in the pathogenesis of COPD. Deficiency of ADA results in enhanced adenosine signaling which up-regulates OPN expression. Although statins suppress OPN in cancer cells, little is known about their effects on ADA and OPN in COPD patients.

Methods

We extended a previous randomized double-blind placebo crossover study to investigate the effects of simvastatin (20 mg/day) on sputum ADA and OPN expression and explored the underlying signaling pathways involved by conducting in vitro experiments with cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-treated monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) from COPD patients and healthy subjects.

Results

Simvastatin decreased sputum IL-13, OPN and CD73, while increasing ADA expression, irrespective of inhaled corticosteroid treatment and smoking status in parallel to increased inosine levels. The degree of simvastatin-restored ADA activity was significantly correlated with the magnitude of changes in pre-bronchodilator FEV₁. Mechanistic exploration showed that CSE enhanced the expression of IL-13, which induced an increase in OPN and inhibited ADA mRNA accumulation in MDM from COPD patients but not healthy subjects through a STAT6-dependent mechanism. Simvastatin treatment inhibited IL-13 transcription in a dose-dependent manner, and therefore diminished the IL-13-induced increase in OPN and restored IL-13-suppressed ADA. There was no effect of simvastatin on adenosine receptors in CSE-stimulated MDM, indicating that its effects were on the adenosine pathway.

Conclusion

Simvastatin reversed IL-13-suppressed ADA activity that leads to the down-regulation of adenosine signaling and therefore inhibits OPN expression through the direct inhibition of IL-13-activated STAT6 pathway. Inhibition of IL-13 may reverse the imbalance between ADA and OPN in COPD and therefore may prevent COPD progression.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12931-016-0424-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Pitavastatin Reduces Inflammation in Atherosclerotic Plaques in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice with Late Stage Renal Disease

Objectives

Chronic renal disease (CRD) accelerates atherosclerosis and cardiovascular calcification. Statins reduce low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in patients with CRD, however, the benefits of statins on cardiovascular disease in CRD remain unclear. This study has determined the effects of pitavastatin, the newest statin, on arterial inflammation and calcification in atherogenic mice with CRD.

Methods and Results

CRD was induced by 5/6 nephrectomy in cholesterol-fed apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Mice were randomized into three groups: control mice, CRD mice, and CRD mice treated with pitavastatin. Ultrasonography showed that pitavastatin treatment significantly attenuated luminal stenosis in brachiocephalic arteries of CRD mice. Near-infrared molecular imaging and correlative Mac3 immunostaining demonstrated a significant reduction in macrophage accumulation in pitavastatin-treated CRD mice. Pitavastatin treatment reduced levels of osteopontin in plasma and atherosclerotic lesions in CRD mice, but did not produce a significant reduction in calcification in atherosclerotic plaques as assesses by histology. CRD mice had significantly higher levels of phosphate in plasma than did control mice, which did not change by pitavastatin. In vitro, pitavastatin suppressed the expression of osteopontin in peritoneal macrophages stimulated with phosphate or calcium/phosphate in concentrations similar to those found in human patients with CRD.

Conclusion

Our study provides in vivo evidence that pitavastatin reduces inflammation within atherosclerotic lesions in CRD mice.

Simvastatin-enhanced expression of promyogenic nuclear factors and cardiomyogenesis of murine embryonic stem cells

A combination of statin and stem cell therapies has been shown to benefit in experimental models of myocardial infarction. This study tests whether treatment with simvastatin has a direct impact on the cardiomyogenic development of murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in embryoid bodies. In a concentration-dependent manner, simvastatin treatment enhanced expression of several promyogenic nuclear transcription factors, including GATA4, Nkx2.5, DTEF-1 and myocardin A. The statin-treated cells also displayed higher levels of cardiac proteins, including myosin, α-actinin, Ryanodine receptor-2, and atrial natriuretic peptide, and they developed synchronized contraction. The statin's promyogenic effect was partially diminished by the addition of the two isoprenoids FPP and GGPP, which are intermediates of cholesterol synthesis. Thus, simvastatin treatment enhances ESC myogenesis during early development perhaps via a mechanism inhibiting the mevalonate-FPP/GGPP pathway.

Osteopontin is a new target molecule for ovarian clear cell carcinoma therapy

Recent studies have demonstrated overexpression of osteopontin (OPN) in ovarian clear cell carcinoma. Here, we revealed the role of OPN in invasiveness in ovarian clear cell carcinoma. We used immunofluorescence analysis to detect OPN in a total of 160 patient-derived specimens. Ovarian clear cell carcinoma cell lines, RMG-1 and TOV-21G, were used to monitor changes in OPN and integrin levels, and cell invasiveness following treatment with OPN, simvastatin, and transfection with siRNA. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed statistically significant differences among the histological groups, and ovarian clear cell carcinoma expressed a strong OPN signal. The OPN receptors, alpha v and 5, and beta 1 and 3 integrins, were increased after treatment with OPN. Invasion assays indicated that OPN enhanced in vitro extracellular matrix invasion dose-dependently in ovarian clear cell carcinoma. Simvastatin significantly reduced expression of OPN and the integrins, and decreased ECM invasion. RNA interference also suppressed ECM invasion. These results suggest that down- or up-regulation of OPN is involved in carcinoma cell invasion. We thus conclude that OPN regulation could have a crucial role in ovarian clear cell carcinoma therapy.

Angiotensin II receptor blocker and statins lower elevated levels of osteopontin in essential hypertension--results from the EUTOPIA trial

BACKGROUND

Osteopontin is a pleiotropic cytokine that has been implicated as a key factor in the development of atherosclerosis, a major complication of hypertension. We have earlier shown that olmesartan reduces mediators of vascular inflammation in patients with hypertension and cardiovascular disease. We aimed at studying the effect of olmesartan and/or pravastatin on osteopontin plasma levels, and the association between vascular inflammation markers and osteopontin in hypertensive patients.

METHODS

We assessed a panel of vascular inflammation markers and osteopontin during 12 weeks of therapy with 20mg olmesartan (n=94) or placebo (n=96) in a prospective, double-blind, multi-center study in patients with essential hypertension (re-evaluation of the EUTOPIA trial blood samples). Pravastatin (20mg) was added to the double-blind therapy at week 6 in both arms. The association of demographic variables and inflammation markers with osteopontin has been analyzed as well.

RESULTS

Baseline osteopontin plasma concentrations in the study population were elevated compared to healthy controls (32.85+/-19.04ng/mL vs. 23.82+/-3.69ng/mL, p=0.027). Mono-therapy with olmesartan and co-therapy with pravastatin reduced levels of circulating osteopontin (p<0.001). The addition of pravastatin to the placebo treatment-arm resulted in a reduction of osteopontin levels as well (p<0.01). osteopontin plasma levels correlated with VCAM-1 (r=0.27; p=0.0002), ICAM-1 (r=0.18; p=0.015), IL-6 (r=0.35; p<0.0001) and hsCRP (r=0.22; p=0.0022).

CONCLUSION

We show, for the first time, that olmesartan significantly decreases osteopontin concentrations. Co-therapy with pravastatin also reduces osteopontin levels. Elevated osteopontin levels in hypertensive patients correlate with adhesion molecules and inflammation markers.

Association of plasma osteopontin levels with coronary calcification evaluated by tomographic coronary calcium scoring

Evidence indicates that proteins controlling bone mineralization are also involved in the regulation of coronary calcification. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the association between plasma osteopontin (OPN) levels and coronary calcification quantified by using tomographic coronary calcium scoring. Plasma OPN levels were measured from samples of 80 intermediate-risk asymptomatic patients (56 +/- 10 years) who underwent tomographic coronary calcium scoring via multislice computed tomography for incremental risk stratification. There was no significant difference regarding OPN levels between patients with and without coronary calcification in the whole study population. Of 49 patients not receiving renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and/or statins, plasma OPN levels of patients with coronary calcification (38.7%) were significantly higher than those without coronary calcification (61.3%) (8.88 +/- 2.85 vs. 6.79 +/- 2.41, P = 0.008, respectively). On a binary logistic regression model, only age and plasma OPN level were found to be significant independent associated variables for the presence of coronary calcification in patients not receiving these medications (odds ratio for age, 1.15, P = 0.017; for plasma OPN levels, 1.63, P = 0.014). Our results indicate that plasma OPN levels may be predictive of coronary calcification, suggesting an important role of OPN in the atherosclerotic calcification pathogenesis.

Statins Activate Human PPARalpha Promoter and Increase PPARalpha mRNA Expression and Activation in HepG2 Cells

Statins increase peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) mRNA expression, but the mechanism of this increased PPARalpha production remains elusive. To examine the regulation of PPARalpha production, we examined the effect of 7 statins (atorvastatin, cerivastatin, fluvastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin) on human PPARalpha promoter activity, mRNA expression, nuclear protein levels, and transcriptional activity. The main results are as follows. (1) Majority of statins enhanced PPARalpha promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner in HepG2 cells transfected with the human PPARalpha promoter. This enhancement may be mediated by statin-induced HNF-4alpha. (2) PPARalpha mRNA expression was increased by statin treatment. (3) The PPARalpha levels in nuclear fractions were increased by statin treatment. (4) Simvastatin, pravastatin, and cerivastatin markedly enhanced transcriptional activity in 293T cells cotransfected with acyl-coenzyme A oxidase promoter and PPARalpha/RXRalpha expression vectors. In summary, these data demonstrate that PPARalpha production and activation are upregulated through the PPARalpha promoter activity by statin treatment.

Effects of pitavastatin on lipid profiles and high-sensitivity CRP in Japanese subjects with hypercholesterolemia: Kansai Investigation of Statin for Hyperlipidemic Intervention in Metabolism and Endocrinology (KISHIMEN) investigatars

AIM

The effect of pitavastatin on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has not been reported, yet, in humans. We, therefore, investigated the effects of pitavastatin on lipid profiles and hs-CRP in Japanese subjects with hypercholesterolemia.

METHODS

The subjects were 178 Japanese with hypercholesterolemia, including 103 (58%) with type 2 diabetes. Pitavastatin (12 mg/day) was administered for 12 months. Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C), triglycerides (TG) and hs-CRP levels were measured for 12 months.

RESULTS

Serum LDL-C and RLP-C levels were significantly decreased by 30.3% and 22.8%, respectively. Serum TG levels were decreased by 15.9% in subjects with basal TG levels above 150 mg/dl. Serum HDL-C levels were significantly increased. The administration of pitavastatin reduced serum hs-CRP levels by 34.8%. No serious adverse events were observed, including changes in glycosylated hemoglobin levels of diabetic patients.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that pitavastatin significantly improves lipid profiles and reduces proinflammatory responses, without adverse effects, in Japanese subjects with hypercholesterolemia, including those with diabetes mellitus.

Prognostic significance of plasma osteopontin levels in patients with chronic stable angina

AIMS

Levels of the secreted glycophosphoprotein osteopontin (OPN) have been associated with the presence and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). The present study assessed the relationship between plasma OPN concentrations and prognosis in patients with chronic stable angina (CSA).

METHODS AND RESULTS

OPN was measured in baseline plasma samples from 799 patients with stable angina pectoris and angiographically documented CAD. Participants were prospectively followed-up for a median of 2.7 years (maximum 4.1 years). The primary study endpoint was the composite of non-fatal myocardial infarction and death from cardiovascular causes. In the univariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, the log-transformed OPN level [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% CI 1.35-2.36, P < 0.001] was significantly related to adverse outcome. In addition, hypertension, levels of C-reactive protein, and statin use were associated with future adverse events. Levels of OPN (HR, 1.88; P < 0.001) and C-reactive protein (HR, 1.42; P = 0.003), as well as the presence of hypertension (HR, 2.39; P = 0.008) remained statistically significant, independent predictors of adverse cardiovascular outcome in a multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis.

CONCLUSION

Baseline levels of OPN are an independent predictor of future adverse cardiac events in patients with CSA and may be useful for risk stratification.

Progression of diabetic nephropathy enhances the plasma osteopontin level in type 2 diabetic patients

Osteopontin (OPN) is thought to play multiple roles in the progression of atherosclerotic plaque including diabetic vascular complications. However, it still remains unclear whether the level of OPN in vivo is indeed clinically associated with the progression of diabetic complications. This study evaluated whether the levels of OPN in plasma and urine are correlated with the progression of diabetic complications, such as retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. In 229 patients with type 2 diabetes, OPN level in plasma and urine was evaluated by both the severity of diabetic complications, such as retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy, and the clinical characteristics and the substantial laboratory findings. Plasma OPN level increased significantly with aging and the progression of diabetic nephropathy, especially at the stage of renal failure (p<0.05). However, the level was not related to the progression of retinopathy or neuropathy, or to laboratory findings, such as HbA1c or serum lipids. In contrast, urinary OPN level was not associated with diabetic complications in any of the subjects. There was no correlation between the plasma and urinary values of OPN. The results established that the plasma OPN was elevated in proportion to the progression of diabetic nephropathy, indicating that the plasma concentration may be a potential diagnostic predictor of diabetic end-stage renal disease.

The Novel HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor, Pitavastatin, Induces a Protective Action in Vascular Endothelial Cells through the Production of Nitric Oxide (NO)

This study sought to induce the effect of nitric oxide (NO) production in vascular endothelial cells by Pitavastatin, which is a novel HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin). The growth capacity of vascular endothelial cells significantly (p < 0.01) declined when stimulated with TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml). The growth capacity of the TNF-alpha treated cells recovered, when the TNF-alpha stimulation was performed after Pitavastatin (100 nM) pretreatment. The recovery of the growth capacity of the cells was suppressed by the presence of the NO synthase inhibitor, L-NAME. Pitavastatin increased NO production by the vascular endothelial cells in a dose and time dependent manner. The NO production was suppressed by the presence of mevalonic acid and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. In addition, the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase was strongly induced by Pitavastatin, and was suppressed by mevalonic acid and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate by Western blot analysis. Our results show that Pitavastatin induces NO production by vascular endothelial cells, and protects vascular endothelial cells from injury due to the inflammatory reaction induced by TNF-alpha.

Pitavastatin: efficacy and safety profiles of a novel synthetic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor

The use of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, statins, has been shown to reduce major cardiovascular events in both primary and secondary prevention, and statins became one of the most widely prescribed classes of drugs throughout the world. Previously, statins have been well tolerated and have shown favorable safety profiles. However, the voluntary withdrawal of cerivastatin from the market because of a disproportionate number of reports of rhabdomyolysis-associated deaths drew attention to the pharmacokinetic profile of statins, which may possibly have been related to serious drug-drug interactions. Pitavastatin (NK-104, previously called itavastatin or nisvastatin, Kowa Company Ltd., Tokyo) is a novel, fully synthetic statin, which has a potent cholesterol-lowering action. The short-term and long-term lipid-modifying effects of pitavastatin have already been investigated in subjects with primary hypercholesterolemia, heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and type-2 diabetes mellitus accompanied by hyperlipidemia. Within the range of daily doses from 1 to 4 mg, the efficacy of pitavastatin as a lipid-lowering drug seems to be similar, or potentially superior, to that of atorvastatin. According to the results of pharmacokinetic studies, pitavastatin showed favorable and promising safety profile; it was only slightly metabolized by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system, its lactone form had no inhibitory effects on the CYP3A4-mediated metabolism of concomitantly administered drugs; P-glycoprotein-mediated transport did not play a major role in its disposition, and pitavastatin did not inhibit P-glycoprotein activity. It could be concluded that pitavastatin could provide a new and potentially better therapeutic choice for lipid-modifying therapy than do the currently available statins. The efficacy and safety of higher dose treatment, as well as its long-term effects in the prevention of coronary artery disease, should be further investigated.

High glucose-induced upregulation of osteopontin is mediated via Rho/Rho kinase pathway in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells

OBJECTIVE

Osteopontin is upregulated in the diabetic vascular wall and in vascular smooth muscle cells cultured under high glucose concentration. In the present study, we analyzed the mechanism of high glucose-induced upregulation of osteopontin in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We found that an inhibitor of Rho-associated protein kinase, Y-27632, suppressed osteopontin mRNA expression under high glucose concentration. Transfection of cells with a constitutive active Rho mutant, pSRalpha-myc-RhoDA, enhanced osteopontin mRNA expression. Furthermore, incubation of cells under high glucose concentration activated Rho, indicating that Rho/Rho kinase pathway mediates high-glucose-stimulated osteopontin expression. Treatment of cells with an inhibitor of protein kinase C, GF109203X, and azaserine, an inhibitor of the hexosamine pathway, suppressed high glucose-induced Rho activation. Glucosamine treatment was shown to activate Rho. Treatment of cells with an inhibitor of MEK1, PD98059, suppressed osteopontin mRNA expression under high glucose concentration. Incubation of cells under high glucose concentration activated ERK. Finally, transfection of cells with pSRalpha-myc-RhoDA also activated ERK.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our present findings support a notion that Rho/Rho kinase pathway functions downstream of protein kinase C and the hexosamine pathways and upstream of ERK in mediating high-glucose-induced upregulation of osteopontin expression.

Plasma osteopontin levels are associated with the presence and extent of coronary artery disease

Recently, osteopontin (OPN) mRNA was reported to be highly expressed in atherosclerotic plaques, most strikingly in calcified plaques. We examined if plasma OPN levels are associated with coronary stenosis and calcification in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We measured plasma OPN levels in 178 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Compared with 71 patients without CAD, 107 with CAD had higher OPN levels (616+/-308 ng/ml versus 443+/-237 ng/ml, P<0.001). A stepwise increase in OPN levels was found depending on the number of >50% stenotic coronary vessels: 540+/-293 ng/ml in 1-vessel, 615+/-230 ng/ml in 2-vessel, and 758+/-416 ng/ml in 3-vessel disease. OPN levels also correlated with the numbers of >50% and >25% stenotic segments (r=0.35 and 0.43, respectively, P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, OPN levels were significantly associated with CAD (odds ratio=1.21, 95% CI=1.05-1.39 for a 100 ng/ml increase) independent of traditional risk factors. Coronary calcification was found in 86 patients. OPN levels were higher in patients with calcification than in those without calcification (608+/-328 ng/ml versus 490+/-246 ng/ml, P<0.01) and correlated with the number of calcified segment (r=0.26, P<0.001). However, OPN levels were not independently associated with coronary calcification. Thus, plasma OPN levels were found to be associated with the presence and extent of CAD.

Pitavastatin alters the expression of thrombotic and fibrinolytic proteins in human vascular cells

In addition to lowering blood lipids, clinical benefits of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG Co-A; EC 1.1.1.34) reductase inhibitors may derive from altered vascular function favoring fibrinolysis over thrombosis. We examined effects of pitavastatin (NK-104), a relatively novel and long acting statin, on expression of tissue factor (TF) in human monocytes (U-937), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) in human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). In monocytes, pitavastatin reduced expression of TF protein induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL). Similarly, pitavastatin also reduced expression of TF mRNA induced by LPS. Pitavastatin reduced PAI-1 antigen released from HUVEC under basal, OxLDL-, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-stimulated conditions. Reductions of PAI-1 mRNA expression correlated with decreased PAI-1 antigen secretion and PAI-1 activity as assessed by fibrin-agarose zymography. In addition, pitavastatin decreased PAI-1 antigen released from OxLDL-treated and untreated SMC. Conversely, pitavastatin enhanced t-PA mRNA expression and t-PA antigen secretion in untreated OxLDL-, and TNF-alpha-treated HUVEC and untreated SMC. Finally, pitavastatin increased t-PA activity as assessed by fibrin-agarose zymography. Our findings demonstrate that pitavastatin may alter arterial homeostasis favoring fibrinolysis over thrombosis, thereby reducing risk for thrombi at sites of unstable plaques.

The effect of statins on mRNA levels of genes related to inflammation, coagulation, and vascular constriction in HUVEC. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Large-scale clinical trials have demonstrated significant reductions in cardiovascular events following statin therapy. The observed benefit of statin therapy, however, may be greater in these trials than is to be expected from lowering lipid levels alone. In order to clarify the mechanism by which statins prevent cardiovascular events in vascular wall cells, we investigated the changes in gene expression profiles after incubation with atorvastatin or pitavastatin in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells using DNA microarrays. Statins affected the expression levels of genes involved in inflammation, coagulation, and vascular constriction. The mRNA levels for interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) decreased after statin treatment. Statins reduced mRNA levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and increased the mRNA levels of thrombomodulin. Statins reduced the mRNA levels of endothelin-1 and increased the mRNA levels of nitric oxide synthase-3 (eNOS). These results show that, statins are clinically effective because of their ability to change the gene expression profile of endothelial cells thereby preventing vascular events.