Lower levels of Caveolin-1 and higher levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase are observed in abdominal aortic aneurysm patients treated with simvastatin

This study was undertaken to verify whether simvastatin modulates Cav-1/eNOS expression, and if this modulation is associated with changes in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) level in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). It is a 1:2 case-control study of non-statin (n=12) and simvastatin-treated patients (n=24) who underwent open AAA repair. Simvastatin treatment decreased Cav-1 (p<0.05) and increased eNOS expression (p<0.01) in the AAA wall. These changes might be dose dependent. The changes in Cav-1 and eNOS were associated with a trend towards decreased IL-6 and IL-17 concentration (p>0.05) and increased IL-10 concentration (p=0.055); however, TLR4 expression was unaffected, suggesting that simvastatin influences Cav-1 and eNOS in the AAA wall by other mechanisms. Simvastatin may modulate Cav-1 and eNOS expression in the aneurysmal wall, indicating a potentially beneficial role for statins in AAA patients.