<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of
simvastatin on
vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (
VCAM-1 ) expression and
adhesive function in ECV-304
cells treated with
CD40L .</p><p><b>
METHODS </b>
Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) was cultured and treated with various concentrations
CD40L alone or in combination with various concentrations
simvastatin in the absence or presence of
mevalonic acid (400 micromol/L). RT-PCR and FCM
analysis were used to determine
VCAM-1 expression and
lymphocytes adhesion to
endothelial cells .</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>
Simvastatin (0 - 10 micromol/L) decreased in a concentration-dependent manner the expression of
VCAM-1 induced by
CD40L and this effect could be blocked by cotreatment with
mevalonic acid . Moreover,
Simvastatin also significantly decreased adhesion capacity of
lymphocytes to
endothelial cells induced by
CD40L .</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>
Simvastatin downregulates
VCAM-1 expression and
adhesive capacity of
lymphocytes to
endothelial cells induced by
CD40L .</p>