Effects of simvastatin on PDGF-BB and serum-induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and on the expression of tumor suppressor gene PTEN / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To observe the effect of simvastatin on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) induced by serum and growth factor PDGF-BB and the effect of simvastatin on the expression of PTEN,a important regulator of G 1/S cell cycle transition. METHODS: The DNA synthesis was determined by -TdR incorporation, cell cycle was examined with flow cytometry, the protein level of PTEN was measured by Western blot method. RESULTS: (1)Simvastatin inhibited -TdR incorporation in a dose dependent manner. (2) Flow cytometric DNA analysis revealed that simvastatin induced significantly enhancement of G 0/G 1 phase and decrease in S phase VSMCs.(3)Simvastatin increased protein level of PTEN and mevalonate, a metabolite of HMG-COA, reversed the effect of simvastatin on PTEN protein expression. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin may inhibit proliferation of VSMCs and retarded cell cycle in G 0/G 1 phase by increasing PTEN expression through inhibiting synthesis of mevalonate.