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Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
Article . 2013 . Peer-reviewed
Data sources: Crossref
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Statins Exert the Pleiotropic Effects Through Small GTP-Binding Protein Dissociation Stimulator Upregulation With a Resultant Rac1 Degradation

Authors: Shin-ichi, Tanaka; Yoshihiro, Fukumoto; Kotaro, Nochioka; Tatsuro, Minami; Shun, Kudo; Nobuyuki, Shiba; Yoshimi, Takai; +3 Authors

Statins Exert the Pleiotropic Effects Through Small GTP-Binding Protein Dissociation Stimulator Upregulation With a Resultant Rac1 Degradation

Abstract

Objective— The pleiotropic effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) independent of cholesterol-lowering effects are thought to be mediated through inhibition of the Rho/Rho-kinase pathway. However, we have previously demonstrated that the pleiotropic effects of regular-dose statins are mediated mainly through inhibition of the Rac1 signaling pathway rather than the Rho/Rho-kinase pathway, although the molecular mechanisms of the selective inhibition of the Rac1 signaling pathway by regular-dose statins remain to be elucidated. In this study, we tested our hypothesis that small GTP-binding protein GDP dissociation stimulator (SmgGDS) plays a crucial role in the molecular mechanisms of the Rac1 signaling pathway inhibition by statins in endothelial cells. Approach and Results— In cultured human umbilical venous endothelial cells, statins concentration-dependently increased SmgGDS expression and decreased nuclear Rac1. Statins also enhanced SmgGDS expression in mouse aorta. In control mice, the protective effects of statins against angiotensin II–induced medial thickening of coronary arteries and fibrosis were noted, whereas in SmgGDS-deficient mice, the protective effects of statins were absent. When SmgGDS was knocked down by its small interfering RNA in human umbilical venous endothelial cells, statins were no longer able to induce Rac1 degradation or inhibit angiotensin II–induced production of reactive oxygen species. Finally, in normal healthy volunteers, statins significantly increased SmgGDS expression with a significant negative correlation between SmgGDS expression and oxidative stress markers, whereas no correlation was noted with total or low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Conclusions— These results indicate that statins exert their pleiotropic effects through SmgGDS upregulation with a resultant Rac1 degradation and reduced oxidative stress in animals and humans.

Keywords

Cross-Over Studies, Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Angiotensin II, Cardiomegaly, Cholesterol, LDL, Coronary Vessels, Fibrosis, Cytoskeletal Proteins, Disease Models, Animal, Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3, Cholesterol, Heptanoic Acids, Atorvastatin, Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells, Animals, Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors, Biomarkers, Cells, Cultured, Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing

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    Top 10%
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citations
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
74
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
bronze