Effects of simvastatin on rapamycin-treated cardiac microvascular endothelial cells

AIM: To investigate the effects of simvastatin (SIM) on the proliferation, migration, apoptosis and nitric oxide secretion of rapamycin (RAPA)-treated cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs). METHODS: CMECs were isolated from rat left ventricle and cultured. They were then added with RAPA at the concentration of 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 μg/L, respectively, for 24 h. MTT and transwell were used to detect cell viability and migration. The concentration (1 μg/L) was then chosen for the next experiment. CMECs with RAPA (1 μg/L) were added with SIM at the concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mol/L, respectively, and cultured for 24 h and proliferation and migration were detected by MTT and transwell. The secretion of NO was assessed by Griess reaction and morphological assessment of apoptosis was performed by Hoechst 33258 staining. RESULTS: RAPA significantly inhibited proliferation and migration of CMECs (P<0.05, P<0.01 vs. control group) in a concentration-dependent manner. However, compared with those in single RAPA-treated group, the proliferation and migration of the groups treated with different concentrations of SIM+RAPA (1 μg/L) increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the secretion of NO increased (P<0.05) and the rates of apoptosis decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: RAPA inhibits proliferation, migration and NO secretion and induces apoptosis of CMECs. SIM may protect CMECs from these impaired effects via RAPA.