Simvastatin

Prior to use in cell assays, Simvastatin needs to be activated by NaOH in EtOH treatment. Simvastatin inhibits cholesterol synthesis in mouse L-M cell (fibroblast), rat H4II E cell (liver), and human Hep G2 cell (liver) with IC50 of 19.3 nM, 13.3 nM and 15.6 nM, respectively. ^[1]

Simvastatin treatment leads to a dose-dependent increase in serine 473 phosphorylation of Akt within 30 minutes, with maximal phosphorylation occurring at 1.0 µM. Simvastatin (1.0 μM) enhances phosphorylation of the endogenous Akt substrate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inhibits serum-free media undergo apoptosis and accelerates vascular structure formation. ^[2]

Simvastatin displays anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. Simvastatin (10 μM) reduces anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibody-stimulated proliferation of PB-derived mononuclear cells and synovial fluid cells from rheumatoid arthritis blood, as well as IFN-γ release. Simvastatin (10 μM) suppresses cell-mediated macrophage TNF-γ release induced via cognate interactions by ~30%. ^[3]

Simvastatin orally administration inhibits the conversion of radiolabeled acetate to cholesterol with IC50 of 0.2 mg/kg. ^[1]

Simvastatin (4 mg/day) orally administration for 13 weeks to rabbits fed an atherogenci cholesterol-rich diet, returns the cholesterol-induced increases in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol to normal level. ^[4]

Simvastatin (6 mg/kg) produces an increase in LDL receptor-dependent binding and increases the number of hepatic LDL receptors in rabbits fed a diet containing 0.25% cholesterol. ^[5]

Simvastatin influences inflammation independent of its effect on plasma cholesterol level. In cynomolgus monkeys consumed an atherogenic diet, Simvastatin (20 mg/kg/day) induces a 1.3-fold less macrophage content in lesions, and 2-fold less vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, interleukin-1beta, and tissue factor expression, companied by a 2.1-fold increases in lesional smooth muscle cell and collagen content. ^[6]

• HMG-CoA reductase activity assay

  The total volume of each assay is 95 μL and the reaction mixture contained 10 μL of the inhibiting compound to be tested and 85 μL of the incubating buffer containing 2 mg/mL liver microsomes, 0.1 M KH₂PO₄, pH 7.2, 5.7 mM dithiothreitol, 10 mM glucose-6-phosphate, 2 U/mL glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 1 mM NADP, 10 μM miconazole. Control experiments are done without NADPH generating system. All samples are incubated 10 min at 37 ℃ before addition of 5μL of substrate (unlabelled and 14C-HMG-3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl CoA, final concentration 50 μM, 2.5 nCi/nmole). After 30 min at 37 ℃, the reaction is stopped by adding 27 μL 1N HCl and 20 μL of unlabelled mevalonolactone (200 μg/assay). The conversion of mevalonic acid to lactone is performed at room temperature for 60 min.

• Cell lines

  HUVECs

• Concentrations

  1 μM

• Incubation Time

  30 minutes

• Method

  HUVECs were treated with simvastatin for 30 minutes.

• Animal Models

  Male Japanese white rabbits

• Dosages

  2.5, 5, & 10 mg/kg

• Administration

  Oral