심바스타틴이 인체망막색소상피세포에서 생산된 혈관내피성장인자에 미치는 효과

Effects of Simvastatin on the Expression of VEGF in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Purpose: To examine the effect of simvastatin on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells under oxidative stress. Methods: RPE cell viability was measured using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay after 24 hours of incubation with various concentrations of simvastatin or H2O2. Cultured human RPE cells were pretreated with various concentrations of simvastatin and then incubated with 100 μm H2O2. After 24 hours of incubation, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to evaluate the expression of VEGF. Results: Simvastatin showed no toxicity up to 10 μm, but cell viability gradually decreased with increased concentration of simvastatin. Human RPE cells showed increased VEGF expression when exposed only to H2O2. When RPE cells were preincubated with simvastatin and later exposed to H2O2, VEGF expression was relatively lower. Conclusions: Simvastatin downregulated the expression of VEGF in human RPE cells under oxidative stress. Simvastatin may have some clinical benefits in preventing retinal diseases associated with VEGF. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2012;53(6):849-855