Effect of statins on fibroblasts from human nasal polyps and turbinates.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Statins are serum cholesterol-lowering agents used for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic vascular disease. There is, however, growing evidence that statins have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities and may prove invaluable in the treatment of immunological and inflammatory disorders.

OBJECTIVE:

On these basis we evaluated the effect of statins on the proliferation of fibroblasts derived from human nasal polyps and turbinates and determined their ability to modulate airway remodelling.

METHODS:

Fluvastatin (0.01-0.1-1 microM), Atorvastatin (0.1-1-10 microM) and Simvastatin (0.1-1-10 microM) were tested on cultured fibroblasts derived from human nasal polyps and turbinates stimulated or not with Fibroblast Growth Factor beta (10 ng/ml). All cultures were treated with 3H-Thymidine (1 microCi/ml) to test cell proliferation.

RESULTS:

Our results show that proliferation of turbinate-derived fibroblasts is significantly inhibited by the three statins. Fluvastatin is already effective at the lowest dose (0.01 microM), whereas Atorvastatin and Simvastatin act at the plasmatic peak concentration (1 microM). No significant effect was found on fibroblasts derived from nasal polyps, except for Simvastatin which was effective after 144 hours of stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS:

These drugs show a remarkable antiprolhferative effect and their different outcome depending on the different kind of fibroblasts in vitro is prompting news in the studies about statin use for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Authors: C Folli, D Descalzi, S Bertolini, A M Riccio, F Scordamaglia, C Gamalero, M Barbieri, G Passalacqua, G W Canonica
• Journal: European annals of allergy and clinical immunology (Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol) Vol. 40 Issue 3 Pg. 84-9 (Nov 2008) ISSN: 1764-1489 [Print] Italy
• PMID: 19334372 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
• Heptanoic Acids
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• Indoles
• Pyrroles
• Fluvastatin
• Atorvastatin
• Simvastatin

Topics

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (pharmacology)
• Atorvastatin
• Cell Division (drug effects)
• Depression, Chemical
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated (pharmacology)
• Fibroblasts (drug effects)
• Fluvastatin
• Heptanoic Acids (pharmacology)
• Humans
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Indoles (pharmacology)
• Nasal Polyps (pathology)
• Pyrroles (pharmacology)
• Simvastatin (pharmacology)
• Turbinates (pathology)