Reduction of bFGF-induced smooth muscle cell proliferation and endothelin receptor mRNA expression by mevastatin and atorvastatin

The anti-atherosclerosis mechanisms of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) occur via both cholesterol-dependent and cholesterol-independent mechanisms. The present study used aortic and cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) from rat to investigate whether atorvastatin and mevastatin affect basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced SMC proliferation and the mRNA expression of endothelin A (ET(A)) and endothelin B (ET(B)) receptors. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT and real-time PCR was used to quantify ET(A) and ET(B) receptor mRNA. bFGF-induced concentration and time dependent SMC proliferation and up-regulation of the mRNA expression of ET(A) and ET(B) receptors. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors inhibited bFGF-induced proliferation of SMC (P<0.01). In aortic SMC atorvastatin and mevastatin significantly inhibited bFGF-induced mRNA expression of endothelin ET(A) and ET(B) receptors (P<0.05). Although in cerebral SMC the inhibitory effect of the statins was comparable in size with that seen in aortic SMC, only reached borderline significance (P=0.06) for ET(A) receptor mRNA but not for ET(B). The findings suggested a direct effect of statins on the vascular wall beyond their well-known lipid lowering effect in anti-atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the specific antagonists of ET(A) and ET(B) receptors (FR139317 and BQ788, respectively) significantly inhibited bFGF-induced SMC proliferation (P<0.001). The results suggested that endothelin receptors and the mevalonate pathway were involved in bFGF-induced SMC proliferation.