Simvastatin Improves Epithelial Dysfunction and Airway Hyperresponsiveness

Ahmad, Tanveer ; Mabalirajan, Ulaganathan ; Sharma, Amit ; Aich, Jyotirmoi ; Makhija, Lokesh ; Ghosh, Balaram ; Agrawal, Anurag (2011) Simvastatin Improves Epithelial Dysfunction and Airway Hyperresponsiveness American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, 44 (4). pp. 531-539. ISSN 1044-1549

Full text not available from this repository.

Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1165/rcmb.2010-0041OC

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1165/rcmb.2010-0041OC

Abstract

Altered arginine metabolism, the uncoupling of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) by asymmetric dimethyl-arginine (ADMA), increased oxo-nitrosative stress, and cellular injury were reported in airway epithelial cells in asthma. Statins improve vascular endothelial dysfunction by reducing ADMA and increasing endothelial NOS (eNOS), thereby reducing oxo-nitrosative stress in cardiovascular diseases. Whether statin therapy leads to similar beneficial effects in lung epithelium in asthma is unknown. The effects of simvastatin therapy after sensitization (40 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) on markers of arginine and NO metabolism and features of asthma were ascertained in a murine model of allergic asthma. The effects of simvastatin on the expression of NOS in A549 lung epithelial cells were studied in vitro. Simvastatin induced eNOS in lung epithelial cells in vitro. In acute and chronic models of asthma, simvastatin therapy was associated with significantly reduced airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, and airway remodeling. ADMA and inducible nitric oxide synthase were reduced by simvastatin, but eNOS was increased. A marked reduction of nitrotyrosine, a marker of oxo-nitrosative stress, was evident in airway epithelium. Cell injury markers such as cytosolic cytochrome c, caspases 3 and 9 and apoptotic protease activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) were also reduced. Simvastatin improves dysfunctional nitric oxide metabolism in allergically inflamed lungs. Important pleiotropic mechanisms may be responsible for the statin-induced reduction of airway inflammation, epithelial injury, and airway hyperresponsiveness.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to American Thoracic Society.
Keywords:Asthma; Asymmetric Dimethyl Arginine; Nitric Oxide; Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase; Epithelial Cell Injury.
ID Code:121010
Deposited On:08 Jul 2021 08:44
Last Modified:08 Jul 2021 08:44

Repository Staff Only: item control page