Inhibition of lovastatin on proliferation and expression of proinflammatory cytokines in cultured human glomerular mesangial cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects and mechanism of lovastatin on cell proliferation and expression of proinflammatory cytokines in cultured human glomerular mesangial cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The influence of lovastatin on HMC proliferation was evaluated with 3H-thymidine incorporation. mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and MCP-1) and activation of NF-kappa B of HMC were measured using Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Lovastatin was found to have inhibitory effects on human mesangial cell (HMC) proliferation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated human mesangine cell HMC mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines via activation of NF-kappa B. The effect of lovstatin on HMC could be prevented when the mevalonate and farnesol were added to the culture.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Lovastatin may decrease HMC proliferation and production of proinflammatory cytokines through the inhibition of NF-kappa B activation. This provided experimental evidence for further evaluation of the renal protective effect of HRI, suggesting that it may be a potent agent for prevention of progressive renal diseases aside from its lipid-lowering effect.</p>