Atorvastatin Calcium Inhibits PDGF-ββ-Induced Proliferation and Migration of VSMCs Through the G0/G1 Cell Cycle Arrest and Suppression of Activated PDGFRβ-PI3K-Akt Signaling Cascade

Background/Aims: Abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a hallmark of vascular lesions, such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. PDGF-beta beta, an isoform of PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor), has been demonstrated to induce proliferation and migration of VSMCs. Atorvastatin calcium, a selective inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, has favorable protective effects on VSMCs. This study examined the effects of atorvastatin calcium on the proliferation and migration of PDGF-beta beta-treated VSMCs, as well as its underlying mechanisms. Methods: MTT assays, Edu imaging, cell cycle analysis, wound healing assays, transwell migration assays, and western blot analysis were performed. Results: Atorvastatin calcium significantly inhibited cell proliferation, DNA synthesis and cell migration of PDGF-beta beta-treated VSMCs. We demonstrated that atorvastatin calcium induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase in response to PDGF-beta beta stimulation and decreased the expression of G0/G1-specific regulatory proteins, including proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), CDK2, cyclin D1, cyclin E and CDK4 in PDGF-beta beta-treated VSMCs. Moreover, pretreatment with atorvastatin calcium inhibited the PDGF-beta beta-treated phosphorylation of PDGFR beta and Akt, whereas atorvastatin calcium did not affect the phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 or (ERK) 1/2. Conclusion: Our data suggested that atorvastatin calcium inhibited abnormal proliferation and migration of VSMCs through G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and suppression of the PDGFR beta-Akt signaling cascade. (c) 2017 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel