D. Pruefer et al., Simvastatin inhibits leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions and protects against inflammatory processes in normocholesterolemic rats, ART THROM V, 19(12), 1999, pp. 2894-2900
Simvastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase in
hibitor, has been shown to lower serum cholesterol levels and normalize end
othelial cell function. Moreover, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors exert benefi
cial effects in coronary artery and cerebrovascular diseases. We examined t
he effects of simvastatin on leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction in vivo
by intravital microscopy. Simvastatin (12.5 or 25 mu g per rat) was given
18 hours before study. Superfusion with the NO synthase inhibitor N-G-nitro
-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 50 mu mol/L) significantly increased leuk
ocyte rolling from 12+/-2 to 60+/-8 leukocytes per minute, increased adhere
nce to the mesenteric endothelium from 1.8+/-0.5 to 17+/-1.2 leukocytes per
100 mu m of venular length, and raised leukocyte transmigration from 2.5+/
-1.0 to 10+/-2 leukocytes per perivessel area (P<0.01). Similar results wer
e obtained with thrombin (0.5 U/mL) superfusion of the mesentery. In contra
st, pretreatment with simvastatin (25 mu g per rat IF) significantly attenu
ated L-NAME-stimulated leukocyte rolling, to 12+/-2 (P<0.01); adherence, to
5+/-0.5 leukocytes per 100 mu m (P<0.01); and leukocyte transmigration, to
3.5+/-1.5 leukocytes per perivessel area (P<0.01). Similar results were ob
tained in thrombin-superfused mesenteries. Moreover, immunohistochemical an
alysis demonstrated significantly increased P-selectin expression on the me
senteric venular endothelium after superfusion with either L-NAME (P<0.01)
or thrombin (P<0.01), which was significantly attenuated by simvastatin. Th
ese results clearly demonstrate that simvastatin is a potent and effective
endothelium-protective agent that reduces leukocyte-endothelial cell intera
ctions independently of its well-known lipid-lowering effects. This effect
was found to be at least partially mediated via downregulation of P-selecti
n expression on the microvascular endothelium. Thus, HMG-CoA reductase inhi
bitors like simvastatin have important anti-inflammatory effects besides th
eir well-known lipid-lowering action.