ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the effects of atorvas-tatin ( ATV) on activation and injury of microvascular endothelial cells induced by oxidized low density lipo-protein ( ox-LDL) . Methods Cultured human micro-vascular endothelial cells were pre-incubated with ATV for 24 h prior to exposure of endothelial cells to ox-LDL. After exposure of endothelial cells to ox-LDL, the cell viability was measured by MTT method, LDH in supernatants was determined by enzyme activity as-say kit, ICAM-1 in supernatants was assayed by using ELISA method, phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 was de-tected by western blot analysis, transcriptional activity of NF-κB signal pathway was measured by employing dual-luciferase reporter assay system. Results Hu-man microvascular endothelial cells were activated and injured by ox-LDL. Inhibition of the cell viability, re-lease of LDH, expression of ICAM-1, phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 , and up-regulated transcriptional activity of NF-κB induced by ox-LDL were attenuated by ATV. Conclusion ATV can significantly inhibit the activa-tion and injury of human microvascular endothelial cells induced by ox-LDL, and that may be related to inhibition of phosphorylation and transcriptional activity of NF-κB.