Mevastatin increases eNO synthase expression and inhibits lipid peroxidation in human endothelial cells

Abstract

Statins can protect endothelial activation independent from their lipid-lowering effects. To gain more insight in mechanisms via which HMG-CoA inhibition may attenuate endothelial activation, we assessed the effects of mevastatin on eNOS expression of non- and modified-LDL treated endothelial cells and on basal and hydrogen peroxide-induced lipid peroxidation. Oxidized-LDL (Ox-LDL), but not glycated or acylated LDL decreased eNOS expression in human endothelial cells. The extent to which Ox-LDL decreases eNOS expression depends on the extent of modification of Ox-LDL. Mevastatin increased eNOS-expression, both in the presence and absence of Ox-LDL. In addition, mevastatin decreased the H₂O₂-induced (100 μM) lipid peroxidation in endothelial cells. This study shows that mevastatin has protective effects on endothelial cells by inducing eNOS and by inhibiting lipid peroxidation.