Different effects of simvastatin on human airway smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by platelet activating factor

Determine whether and how simvastatin (Sim) may influence human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) proliferation induced by platelet activating factor (PAF) through NADPH oxidase-ROS signaling pathway. Cell proliferation was analyzed according to the protocol of CCK-8 assay. Intracellular reactive oxygen species was measured by the fluorescence using an oxidation sensitive fluorescent probe, 2′7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFHDA). The mRNA of Nox4, MnSOD, and Catalase were determined by real-time PCR. Protein levels of Nox4, phospho-ERK, total ERK were determined by western blotting. Inhibitor of MEK1/2was used to confirm the involved signal pathway. Our data demonstrated that PAF induced HASMCs proliferation with the maximal effect seen at 10-6 M and 24 h, the proliferation rate was (1.77 ± 0.51)as fold as the control group. Simvastatin (at the concentration of 10-5 M) was (0.67 ± 0.18), inhibited HASMCs proliferation induced by PAF (P