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Vascular Biology |
From the Clinic of Internal Medicine II, Department of Angiology (A.R-M., R.A.B., G-H.S., T.M., E.M., M.B.), Department of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research (G.W.P., B.R.B.), Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (B) (H-G.K.), and Department of Internal Medicine I (P.V.), Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Correspondence to Mehrdad Baghestanian, MD, Associate Professor of Vascular Biology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Angiology, University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. E-mail Mehrdad.Baghestanian{at}univie.ac.at
| Abstract |
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Methods and Results A total number of 107 hypercholesterolemic patients were treated with 20 mg (n=52) or 40 mg (n=55) of simvastatin daily. After 6 weeks of treatment, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) expressed lower amounts of CD54-, CD18-, and CD11a-mRNA compared with pretreatment values. Surface expression of CD54 and CD18/CD11a on CD14+-monocytes also decreased significantly in both groups of patients. Moreover, simvastatin, atorvastatin, and cerivastatin were found to downregulate tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-
induced expression of CD54 and CD18/CD11a in isolated PBMCs obtained from normal donors as well as TNF-
dependent expression of these CAMs in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, all three statins were found to reduce the binding of PBMCs to TNF-
stimulated HUVECs in vitro.
Conclusions Statin-induced inhibition of expression of CD54 and CD18/CD11a in PBMCs and HUVECs with consecutive loss of adhesive function may contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of these drugs and some of their beneficial clinical activities.
Key Words: atherosclerosis cholesterol leukocytes endothelium cell adhesion molecules
| Introduction |
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.5 Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, or statins, are effective lipid-lowering agents used extensively in medical practice. Lipid/cholesterol lowering has been found to have favorable effects on inflammatory processes within atheromatous plaques. Several large-scale studies have demonstrated that statin treatment reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.6 Mounting evidence indicates that some beneficial effects of statins may result from their ability to directly affect the composition of plaques by mechanisms independent of cholesterol reduction.7 These activities include an improved endothelial function,8,9 enhanced fibrinolysis,10 and antithrombotic actions.11
Recent publications demonstrate the influence of statin treatment on the serum levels of various soluble CAMs, including ICAM-1,12,13 vascular cell adhesion molecule,14 and selectine,15 but there is little known about the statin-induced effects on membrane-bound CAMs on circulating mononuclear cells of hypercholesterolemic patients (HPs). In this study we investigated further effects of statins on parameters pivotal for endothelium leukocyte interactions.
In the clinical part of our project we studied the effect of simvastatin treatment on expression and production of ICAM-1 and its ligand LFA-1 in circulating PBMCs in HPs. In in vitro experiments we investigated the effects of three different statins on the expression and production of endothelial/leukocyte adhesion molecules by TNF-
treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and PBMCs.
| Methods |
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Reagents and Preparation of Statins
The monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 8.4A6 (CD54), R7.1 (CD11a), 68 to 5A5 (CD18), and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled CRIS-6 (CD14) were purchased from Biosource Europe (Nivelles, Belgium), FITC-goat antimouse IgG from Ancell (Bayport, Minn), and the PE-labeled mAbs HA58 (CD54), HI111 (CD11a), and 6.7 (CD18) from Becton Dickinson (San Diego, Calif). RPMI 1640 medium and FCS were from Sera Laboratory (Crawley Down, UK), endothelial basal medium from Promo Cell Co (Heidelberg, Germany). Oligonucleotides were from MWG Biotech (Ebersberg, Germany). Simvastatin was obtained from MSD (Linden, NJ), cerivastatin from Bayer (Wuppertal, Germany), and atorvastatin from Pfizer (Karlsruhe, Germany). Mevalonic acid (MVA) was purchased from Sigma Chemical (St. Louis, Mo). Atorvastatin was dissolved in 100% ethanol at 55°C and cerivastatin in 7% ethanol. Simvastatin and MVA (provided in lactone form) were prepared by dissolving in ethanol (7%) and 0.1 N NaOH before dissolving in RPMI-1640 medium.
Isolation and Culture of PBMCs
Peripheral blood was obtained by venipuncture from HPs (n=107) and HNDs (n=20). In HPs, blood was collected before and during statin treatment (at 6 weeks and 6 months). In HNDs, blood was collected at two different time points (6-week interval). PBMCs were separated using Ficoll16 and subjected to RNA extraction and flow cytometry. To evaluate the in vitro effects of statins on expression of CAM-mRNA, normal PBMCs (HNDs, n=3) were isolated. These cells were then preincubated with statins (simvastatin, cerivastatin, atorvastatin, each 10 µmol/L) in the presence or absence of MVA (100 µmol/L) in RPMI-1640 medium with 10% FCS at 37°C for 6 hours and then exposed to TNF-
(10 ng/mL) for another 6 hours.
Isolation and Culture of Primary HUVECs
Umbilical cords were obtained at delivery after informed consent had been given by mothers. HUVECs were isolated using collagenase type IA (Sebak, Austria), and cultured as described.16 To assess the statin effects on expression of adhesion molecules, HUVECs, passage 2 to 3, were cultured in 6-well plates and incubated with statins (simvastatin, cerivastatin, atorvastatin, each 1 and 10 µmol/L) in the presence of absence of MVA (100 µmol/L) in RPMI 1640 medium at 37°C for 2, 6, or 12 hours. Thereafter, TNF-
(10 ng/mL) was added to HUVECs for additional 6 hours. Cells were then detached with trypsin/EDTA17 (Sigma) and prepared for flow cytometry or Northern blotting.
Flow Cytometry
Expression of cell surface antigens (CD54, CD18, CD11a) on PBMCs and HUVECs was analyzed by flow cytometry.18 To distinguish monocytes from other PBMCs, a FITC-conjugated CD14 mAb was applied. Gating for forward scatter (CD11a-, CD18-, or CD54-PE) and side scatter (CD14-FITC) diagrams was performed. HUVECs were examined by flow cytometry using unlabeled mAbs. Isotype-matched antibodies served as control. Flow cytometry was performed on a FACS-Calibur (Becton Dickinson). At least 5000 cells were analyzed in each sample using CellQuest software (Becton Dickinson).
RNA Extraction and Northern Blot Analysis
Total RNA was extracted from PBMCs (HPs before and after treatment, n=20; HNDs, n=3) and HUVECs by RNA extraction kit "Purescript" (Gentra-System, Minneapolis, Minn) following the manufacturers instructions. Northern blot analysis was performed following published techniques.16 Briefly, 10 µg of RNA was size fractionated on 1.2% agarose gels and transferred to synthetic membranes (Hybond N, Amersham). Hybridization was performed with 32P-labeled synthetic specific oligo-nucleotide probes (3' end). Bound radioactivity was visualized by exposure to XAR-5. As an internal control, ß-actin probe was used. The sequences of the oligonucleotide probes were as follows: ß-actin (34-mer): 5'-GGCTGGGGT GTTGAAGGTCTCAAACATG ATCTGG-3';16 ICAM-1 (30-mer): 5'-CCATACAGGACACGAAGCTCCCGG-GTCT GG-3';19 CD18 (27-mer): 5'-GCCTGAATGGCACTCG-CATACGTTGCA-3';20 and CD11a (27-mer): 5'-TGTCTGTCAG-AGCAGTGATGGCTTCTC-3'.21 Northern blot results were quantified by densitometry as described.18
Adhesion Assay
In adhesion experiments, HUVECs were cultured in 24-well plates in media containing 10% FCS. HUVECs were incubated with statins (each 1 or 10 µmol/L) for 6 hours and then exposed to TNF-
(10 ng/mL) or control medium for another 6 hours. The adhesion assay was performed as described.22 In brief, 2x105 PBMCs were placed on HUVECs monolayers. After 12 minutes, nonadherent cells were removed, and the remaining (attached) cells fixed in 1% glutaraldehyde. Thereafter, cells were stained with Coomassie-blue (Merck, Germany). The number of attached PBMCs was counted in each of 20 of microscopic fields.
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS 10.0.7 statistical software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Ill). As a first step numeric values were analyzed for presence of normal distribution. In cases of normal distribution values are stated as mean±standard deviation. The significance of any differences concerning these values was evaluated by a paired t test. For values, that are not randomly distributed we stated the mean and the interquartile range in parenthesis. The significance of those values was evaluated by the nonparametric Wilcoxon rank sum test and the MannWhitney U test. Differences in proportions were assessed by using the Chi-square statistic. To evaluate the difference of the influence of simvastatin on plasma lipid levels and CAMs and CDs, we calculated the mean relative differences of all values and used the paired t test. P<0.05 was considered as significant for all tests.
| Results |
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Expression of CAM-Specific mRNA in PBMCs During Simvastatin Treatment
As assessed by Northern blotting, transcripts specific for CD54, CD11a, and CD18 were detectable in circulating PBMCs in HPs (Figure 1). As determined by densitometry, PBMCs obtained after 6 weeks or 6 months of treatment with simvastatin contained significantly lower levels of CD54-, CD18-, and CD11a-mRNA compared with respective pretreatment levels (P<0.05; see online Figure I, which can be accessed at http://atvb.ahajournals.org). PBMCs obtained from HNDs expressed low detectable amounts of CAM mRNA in our Northern blotting experiments with no changes in a 6-week period (Figure II).
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Simvastatin Treatment Decreases the Expression of Membrane-Bound CAMs on CD14+ Monocytes in Hypercholesterolemic Patients
The change of the amount of CAMs on the surface (ie, change of geometric mean) of CD14+ monocytes was measured by flow cytometry in both treatment groups (Figure 2) and in HND (Figure III). Membrane-bound CAMs (CD54, CD18 and CD11a) were significantly higher in CD14+ monocytes in untreated HPs when compared with HNDs. Treatment with simvastatin decreased the expression of these receptors significantly after 6 weeks as well as after 6 months on the surface of CD14+ monocytes of HP (P<0.001; Figure 2) whereas there were no changes in untreated HNDs within a period of 6 weeks (P>0.05; Figure III). There were no significant differences concerning the change of CAMs between both treatment groups (40 versus 20 mg/day).
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The correlation between the mean relative reduction of cholesterol and CAMs is shown in Figure IV. Mean reduction of CD18 was significantly higher at both time points (each P<0.001). However, the mean relative reduction of CD11a and CD54 was significantly higher only after 6 months (each P<0.001) whereas we detected no significant difference compared with the corresponding data of plasma cholesterol after 6 weeks (CD11a: P=0.87, CD54: P=0.8). The change of expression of CAMs on PBMCs of a typical patient treated with 40 mg of simvastatin per day is shown in histograms (Figure V).
In Vitro Effects of Statins on Expression of CD54-, CD11a-, and CD18-mRNA in Cultured Human ECs and PBMCs Obtained From HNDs
As assessed by Northern blotting, unstimulated HUVECs and PBMCs expressed low amounts of mRNA specific for CD54, CD11a, and CD18. Exposure to TNF-
(10 ng/mL) resulted in upregulation of all three CAMs in both HUVECs and PBMCs (Figure 3). Incubation of these cells with simvastatin, atorvastatin, or cerivastatin (each 10 µmol/L) for 12 hours was followed by a visible decrease in TNF-
induced expression of CAM mRNA (Figure 3). No differences were found when the effects of the three statins applied were compared. The addition of MVA (100 µmol/L) reversed the inhibitory effects of the statins in all cases examined (Figure 3).
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In Vitro Effects of Statins on ICAM-1 and LFA-1 on the Surface of TNF-
Activated HUVECs
Unstimulated HUVECs were found to express baseline levels of CD54, CD11a, and CD18 (Figure 4). Stimulation of HUVECs with TNF-
(10 ng/mL) resulted in an upregulation of all three CAMs on HUVECs (Figure 4). Incubation with simvastatin, atorvastatin, or cerivastatin (each 10 µmol/L) for 8, 12 or 18 hours was found to counteract TNF-
-induced expression of CAMs (Figure 4). There were no differences concerning the modulation of TNF-induced CAMs when the effects of the three statins were compared. The addition of MVA (100 µmol/L) reversed the inhibitory statin effects on TNF-
stimulated HUVECs (n= 3; Figure VI).
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Statins Reduce the Adherence of TNF-
Stimulated HUVECs to PBMCs
HUVECs were exposed to TNF-
with or without statins (1 or 10 µmol/L); subsequently, the adhesion assay was performed. The number of attached PBMCs to HUVECs increased after the stimulation of HUVECs with TNF-
as compared with untreated HUVECs. Statins in both concentrations reduced the number of attached PBMCs to TNF-
stimulated HUVECs (Figure 5). There were no differences between all statins tested.
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| Discussion |
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The earliest events in atherogenesis are activation of vascular endothelial cells, followed by adhesion, and migration of monocytes and T lymphocytes into the subendothelial space.23 Among these, the foam cell conversion of monocyte-derived macrophages by modified LDL is known to play a key role.24,25 LDL upregulation activates vascular cells, such as endothelial cells, macrophages, and smooth muscle cells, and induces several proatherogenic genes, including adhesion molecules, such as ICAM-1.26 In line with these data from in vitro studies, we showed that PBMCs from HPs express higher amounts of ICAM-1 as well as its ligand LFA-1 on both protein and mRNA levels. Statin treatment caused a significant reduction of cholesterol, which alone would cause a decrease of CAMs in circulating PBMCs. We could reveal that the reduction of CAMs, especially CD18, was significantly stronger than the reduction of cholesterol. This effect can be explained by the observation that simvastatin treatment leads to a decrease of serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and membrane cofactor protein (MCP)-1,18 which additionally exerts an inactivation of leukocytes. Consequently, in the in vitro experiments we confirmed that statins are capable to directly reduce the membrane bound CAMs in TNF-
stimulated PBMCs and ECs by the decrease of the mRNA expression of these molecules by statins.
Weitz-Schmidt et al27 have recently shown, that adhesion molecules CD18/CD11a possess a l-binding domain. This domain is the binding site of lovastatin. They revealed that the inhibition of interactions between CD18/CD11a and ICAM-1 by statins correlates with the binding of these drugs to the allosteric site of the LFA-1 and results in decreased leukocyte adhesion to ICAM-1. In our clinical study, we stated that simvastatin treatment of HP results in a decreased mRNA expression of LFA-1 and ICAM-1 in their circulating monocytes. Additionally, data from our in vitro experiments revealed that statins are able to lower the expression of mRNA of CAMs in TNF-
activated HUVECs and PBMCs. Furthermore, in the in vitro experiments we showed that statins did not influence the amount of surface bound CAMs in unstimulated PBMCs and HUVECs as assessed by flow cytometry (data not shown). Hence, all these results strengthen the hypothesis that statins might not block activity of LFA-1 merely by attachment of the l-domain but also by reduction of the expression of transcripts of LFA-1 and its ligand CD54. The reduction of mRNA is followed by the decreased amount of these CAMs on the surface of ECs as well as on PBMCs.
TNF-
is a pivotal inflammatory cytokine increased in the serum of patients with hypercholesterolemia.28 In our in vitro studies, we showed that statins are able to inhibit the upregulation of expression of mRNA of ICAM-1 as well as CD11a/CD18 by TNF-
in cultured HUVECs and PBMCs. Statins block the formation of MVA with consecutive depletion of isoprenoid intracellular compounds, including major regulators of cell growth and cellular signaling pathway, such as nuclear factor (NF)-
B and Rho/Rho-kinase.10,29 In the present study, the statin-induced downregulation of CAM expression in TNF-
activated HUVECs and PBMCs were reversed by co-incubation with MVA. This observation points to a specific statin effect and a role of the MVAisoprenoid pathway in expression and production of adhesion molecules in vascular cells. Recent data obtained with smooth muscle cells suggest that statins inhibit the activation of NF-
B,30 a major nuclear factor that regulates the expression of diverse proinflammatory parameters, including various adhesion molecules.31 More recently, Eto et al32 showed that statins inhibit the expression of tissue factor in endothelial cells through inhibition of Rho/Rho kinase pathway. Rho/Rho kinase are involved in the regulation and distribution of ICAM-1 and LFA-1 in the ECs as well in mononuclear cells.33 Based on the above findings, it is also tempting to speculate that the statin-induced downregulation of CAM expression may, in part, involved a loss of functional NF-
B and inhibition of Rho/Rho kinase pathway in their target cells. However, this hypothesis was not formally proven in the present study.
The inhibitory effects of statins on interaction between ECs and PBMCs as shown in adhesion assay are consistent with the previous findings of Weber et al.34 These results suggest that the mechanisms by which statins reduce monocyte adhesion involve, at least in part, the downregulation of integrin expression in HUVECs.
Pharmacokinetic data have shown17 that serum concentrations of statins vary between 0.5 to 5 µmol/L. Hence, the concentrations used in the in vitro studies are in this range or slightly above these serum concentrations. Finally, our data point to an important novel effect of statins that may contribute to their anti-inflammatory and antiatherosclerotic activities.
| Acknowledgments |
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| Footnotes |
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Received October 29, 2002; accepted January 3, 2003.
| References |
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