[Atorvastatin inhibits scavenger receptor A and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expressions in foam cell].

Objective To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on expressions of scavenger receptor A and secretion of monocyte chemoattactant protein-1(MCP-1)in foam cells.Methods THP-1 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages by PMA and treated with 0.1% BSA(control),ox-LDL(100 mg/L) or ox-LDL plus atorvastatin(5,10,20 μmol/L)for 24 hours.MCP-1 concentration in cell substratum was measured by ELISA.Scavenger receptor A expression was observed under fluorescent microscope after incubated with DiI-Ac-LDL.The relationship between concentration of MCP-1 and the activity of scavenger receptor A was also analyzed.Results Compared to the control cells,MCP-I concentration in ox-LDL treated cells was significantly increased after 6 hours,peaked at 12 hours and was still significantly increased after 24 hours(all P0.05 vs.baseline).The activity of scavenger receptor A was also significantly increased in ox-LDL treated cells(P0.01 vs.control).The activity of scavenger receptor A proteins correlated positively to the concentration of MCP-1 in ox-LDL treated cells(r=0.683,P0.01). Atorvastatin significantly attenuated these changes in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusions Scavenger receptor A and MCP-1 expressions were significantly increased in the course of monocyte lines THP-1 differentiating into macrophages and foam cells.The anti-atherosclerosis effect of atorvastatin might be partly achieved by inhibiting the secretion of MCP-1 and expression of scavenger receptor A in foam cells.