Fluvastatin Upregulates the α1C Subunit of CaV1.2 Channel Expression in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells via RhoA and ERK/p38 MAPK Pathways

Abnormal phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) is a hallmark of vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. And this process has been related to remodeling of L-type calcium channel (LTCC). We attempted to investigate whether fluvastatin has any effect on VSMC proliferation and LTCCα1C subunit (LTCCα1C) expression as well as the potential mechanisms involved. The VSMCs proliferation was assayed by osteopontin immunofluorescent staining and [3H]-thymidine incorporation. The cell cycle was detected by flow cytometric analysis. The activity of RhoA was determined with pull-down assay. MAPK activity and LTCCα1C expression were assessed by western blotting. We demonstrated fluvastatin prevented the VSMCs dedifferentiating into a proliferative phenotype and induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase in response to PDGF-BB stimulation. Fluvastatin dose-dependently reversed the downregulation of LTCCα1C expression induced by PDGF-BB. Inhibition of ROCK, ERK, or p38 MAPK activation largely enhanced the upregulation effect of fluvastatin (P < 0.01). However, blockade of JNK pathway had no effect on LTCCα1C expression. We concluded LTCCα1C was a VSMC contractile phenotype marker gene. Fluvastatin upregulated LTCCα1C expression, at least in part, by inhibiting ROCK, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK activation. Fluvastatin may be a potential candidate for preventing or treating vascular diseases.