Further evidence for direct vascular actions of statins: Effect on endothelial nitric oxide synthase and adhesion molecules

The effect of the synthetic statin fluvastatin was investigated on the conc entrations of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and of soluble adhes ion molecules in human vascular endothelial cell cultures. Fluvastatin was able to increase dose-dependently eNOS concentration. In addition, fluvasta tin reduced concentrations of E-Selectin and ICAM-1. These results further support the evidence that statins elicit important effects on the vascular endothelium which may contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortalit y of cardiovascular diseases.