Modulation by simvastatin of iberiotoxin-sensitive, Ca2+-activated K+ channels of porcine coronary artery smooth muscle cells

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2007

Keywords

HMG CoA reductase, Simvastatin, Coronary artery, BKCa channels

DOI

10.1038/sj.bjp.0707327

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors) have been demonstrated to reduce cardiovascular mortality. It is unclear how the expression level of HMG CoA reductase in cardiovascular tissues compares with that in cells derived from the liver. We hypothesized that this enzyme exists in different cardiovascular tissues, and simvastatin modulates the vascular iberiotoxin-sensitive Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels.

Experimental Approaches: Expression of HMG CoA reductase in different cardiovascular preparations was measured. Effects of simvastatin on BKCa channel gatings of porcine coronary artery smooth muscle cells were evaluated.

Key Results: Western immunoblots revealed the biochemical existence of HMG CoA reductase in human cardiovascular tissues and porcine coronary artery. In porcine coronary artery smooth muscle cells, extracellular simvastatin (1, 3 and 10 μM) (hydrophobic), but not simvastatin Na+ (hydrophilic), inhibited the BKCa channels with a minimal recovery upon washout. Isopimaric acid (10 μM)-mediated enhancement of the BKCa amplitude was reversed by external simvastatin. Simvastatin Na+ (10 μM, applied internally), markedly attenuated isopimaric acid (10 μM)-induced enhancement of the BKCa amplitude. Reduced glutathione (5 mM; in the pipette solution) abolished simvastatin -elicited inhibition. Mevalonolactone (500 μM) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (20 μM) only prevented simvastatin (1 and 3 μM)-induced responses. simvastatin (10 μM) caused a rottlerin (1 μM)-sensitive (cycloheximide (10 μM)-insensitive) increase of PKC-δ protein expression.

Conclusions and Implications: Our results demonstrated the biochemical presence of HMG CoA reductase in different cardiovascular tissues, and that simvastatin inhibited the BKCa channels of the arterial smooth muscle cells through multiple intracellular pathways.

Source Publication

British Journal of Pharmacology

Volume Number

151

Issue Number

7

First Page

987

Last Page

997

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