Atorvastatin inhibits the H₂O₂-induced apoptosis of human vascular endothelial cells through a down-regulation of cleaved caspase-9/caspase-3
Xu, Z.-r.; Yao, H.-p.; Li, S.-j.; Wu, W.-z.; Yang, Y.-m.
Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 92(24): 1711-1714
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 0376-2491 PMID: 22944165 Document Number: 656144
To investigate the effect and potential mechanism of atorvastatin against H₂O₂-induced apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECV-304). ECV-304 cells were pretreated with different concentrations of atorvastatin (0.1, 1 and 10 µmol/L) for 2 h, followed by an exposure to 100 µmol/L H₂O₂ for 18 h. Cellular morphology was observed under fluorescence microscope. Cellular viability and apoptosis were evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and flow cytometry. Finally the expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9 were measured by Western blot. H₂O₂ treatment caused an obvious apoptosis of ECV-304 cells and significantly decreased the cellular viability as characterized by a high percentage (50.71%) of apoptotic cells. Atorvastatin pretreatment inhibit cellular apoptosis induced by H₂O₂ (39.45%, 20.53% and 7.83%). Western blot assay showed that H₂O₂ treatment caused a high expression of cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9 while atorvastatin pretreatment obviously inhibited the expression in a dose-dependent manner. Atorvastatin inhibits the H₂O₂-induced apoptosis of ECV-304 cells in a dose-dependent manner. This effect may be associated with the down-regulation of cleaved caspase-9/caspase-3.