HMG-CoA reductase inhibition and PPAR-alpha activation both inhibit cyclosporin A induced endothelin-1 secretion in cultured endothelial cells

The use of cyclosporin A (CsA) in solid organ transplantation has been shown to be associated with the development of hypertension and nephrotoxicity. Several mechanisms, including endothelin (ET)-1-mediated systemic vasoconstriction, are considered to be responsible for CsA-induced hypertension. This study shows that: (i) incubation of CsA (1µM) with bovine aortic endothelial cells leads to increased ET secretion by+40%; (ii) the use of compactin, the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor and fibric acid, the peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha activator, inhibit the CsA-induced ET secretion to the level below the basal ET secretion, by -32% and -26% respectively; (iii) both inhibitions were reversed by the addition of mevalonate, suggesting communication between the HMG-CoA reductase product and PPAR-alpha pathway. The present findings may be of significant clinical relevance, since statins and fibrates beyond their hypolipidaemic action may represent a potential therapeutic tool in the treatment or prophylaxis of CsA-associated side effects. Furthermore, we suggest that the mevalonate metabolism would interfere with PPAR-alpha activity.