[Effect of NF-κB on proliferation of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells inhibited by simvastatin].

Objective: To explore the effects of NF-κB on proliferation of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) inhibited by simvastatin.

Methods: PASMC isolated from rats and cultured in vitro were randomly divided into four groups (n=6 each): control, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) treatment, PDGF+simvastatin treatment, and PDGF+simvastatin+parthenolide (NF-κB inhibitor) treatment. MTT colorimetric assay and flow cytometry were performed to detect cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of NF-κB protein. Real-Time PCR was performed to detect NF-κB mRNA expression.

Results: Compared with the control group, MTT values of PASMC at all time points, cell proportion at the S phase and G2+M phase, NF-κB protein and mRNA expression increased significantly in the PDGF group (P<0.05). With the intervention of simvastatin, the levels of above indexes decreased compared with the PDGF group (P<0.05). With the intervention of simvastatin and parthenolide, the levels of above indexes decreased more obviously, but were not significantly different from those in the simvastatin intervention group.

Conclusions: Simvastatin can inhibit proliferation of PASMC and cell cycle process. NF-κB may play an important role in the inhibitory effect of simvastatin on the proliferation of PASMC.