Open AccessHMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors Reduce IκB Kinase Activity Induced by Oxidative Stress in Monocytes and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Author(s) -
Mónica Ortego,
Almudena Gómez-Hernández,
Cristina Vidal,
Eva Sánchez-Galán,
Luís Miguel Blanco-Colio,
José Luis Martı́n-Ventura,
José Tuñón,
Cristina Dı́az,
Gonzalo Hernández,
Jesũs Egido
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.762
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1533-4023
pISSN - 0160-2446
DOI - 10.1097/01.fjc.0000159042.50488.e5
Subject(s) - oxidative stress , iκb kinase , p38 mitogen activated protein kinases , vascular smooth muscle , reactive oxygen species , kinase , chemistry , superoxide , simvastatin , pharmacology , biochemistry , signal transduction , nf κb , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , biology , protein kinase a , enzyme , smooth muscle
Reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide anion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), may act as second messengers of intracellular signaling and play a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappa B) is a redox-sensitive transcription factor that is involved in this process. The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of action of statins on cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and monocytic cells (THP-1) under oxidative stress. In THP-1 and cultured VSMC, O2- caused an increase in NF-kappa B activation (P < 0.05) that was correlated with inhibitory I kappa B-alpha degradation. Atorvastatin or simvastatin decreased NF-kappa B activation induced by oxidative stress by around 50% in both cell types and was correlated with the I kappa B-alpha levels. In monocytes, O2- increased I kappa B kinase (IKK)-1 and IKK-2 activity (P < 0.05) and p38 and p42/44 activation and phosphorylation, which was reduced by statins. PD 98059 (p42/44 inhibitor) and SB20358 (p38 inhibitor) decreased NF-kappa B binding activity and prevented I kappa B-alpha degradation. However, we only observed a reduction in IKK-1 and IKK-2 activity with PD98059. Statins diminish NF-kappa B activation elicited by oxidative stress through the inhibition of IKK-1/-2, p38, and p42/44 activation. These data may help to further understand the molecular mechanisms of statins in cardiovascular disease.