Inhibition Of Leptin-induced TNF-α Expression By Atorvastatin In Vascular Endothelial Cells

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on leptin induced TNF-a expression in vascular endothelial cells and reveal the signal pathway.METHORDS:Vascular endothelial cells (VECs) were isolated and cultured from the aortas of8-10-week-old male mice. The protein and mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha expression were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) respectively. The mRNA of endonuclear nuclear factor-kappa B was analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR)RESULTS:Leptin treatment caused a time-dependent increase in tumor necrosis factor alpha expression. The protein of tumor necrosis factor alpha treated by atorvastatin was lower than that of the leptin stimulation group at dose-dependent. The nuclear factor-kappa B was enhanced by leptin stimulation and the leptin induced nuclear factor-kappa B decreased after10micromol/L atorvastatin stimulation. CONCLUSION:Atorvastatin decreases the leptin induced tumor necrosis factor alpha expression in VECs while atorvastatin at1-10micromol/L concentration-dependently through inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B.