Statin blocks Rho/Rho-kinase signalling and disrupts the actin cytoskeleton: relationship to enhancement of LPS-mediated nitric oxide synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells.

We previously demonstrated statins to enhance cytokine-mediated nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). To clarify the mechanism by which this occurs, we evaluated the effects of fluvastatin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated VSMC. NO production induced by LPS was dose-dependently enhanced by fluvastatin, as were iNOS mRNA levels and iNOS protein expression.