Simvastatin decreases free radicals formation in the human abdominal aortic aneurysm wall via NF-κB

Statins have been reported to suppress the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, the effects of statins on inflammatory processes and free radicals generation are poorly understood.

Wall samples from 51 patients (simvastatin patients, n = 34; non-statin patients, n = 17; matched by sex, age and aneurysm size) subjected to elective open AAA repair were analysed. We examined the effects of simvastatin on lipid peroxidation (4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (4-HNE)), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentration, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity as well as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway activation in human AAA wall samples.

Treatment with simvastatin resulted in a decrease in 4-HNE and TNF-α concentration (median 4.18 μg/mg protein vs. 4.75, p = 0.012; median 10.33 pg/ml vs. 11.81, p = 0.026, respectively). CAT activity was higher in the simvastatin group (median 3.98 U ml vs. 3.19, p = 0.023). NF-κB expression was lower (p = 0.018) in the simvastatin group. However, simvastatin had little effect on H(2)O(2) concentration (p = 0.832) and SOD activity (p = 0.401).

Simvastatin inhibits free radicals and TNF-α generation and improves antioxidant capacity of human AAA wall tissue, possibly through the suppression of NF-κB activity. This may be one possible explanation how statins can inhibit AAA oxidative stress.