Effect of simvastatin on cholesterol efflux and expression of ABCA1 and CD36 in THP-1 macrophages

Objective To study the effect of different simvastatin doses on cholesterol efflux induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein（ox-LDL） and expression of ABCA1 and CD36 in THP-1 macrophages. Methods A model of ox-LDL-induced foam cells was established.THP-1 macrophages were cultured in vitro,treated with simavastatin,and labeled with 3H.Cholesterol efflux was measured by liquid scintillation.Formation of foam cells was observed with oil red O staining.Expressions of ABCA1 and CD36 protein and mRNA were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR,respectively. Results The cholesterol efflux volume and the expression level of ABCA1 protein and mRNA were significantly higher while the expression level of CD36 protein and mRNA was significantly lower in simvastatin treatment group than in ox-LDL induction group（P＜0.05）. Conclusion Simvastatin can promote ox-LDL-induced cholesterol efflux from foam cells and inhibit formation of foam macrophages by up-regulating ABCA1 expression and down-regulating CD36 expression.