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Pitavastatin stimulates retinal angiogenesis via HMG-CoA reductase-independent activation of RhoA-mediated pathways and focal adhesion

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Abstract

Background

Excessive angiogenesis of the retina is a key component of irreversible causes of blindness in many ocular diseases. Pitavastatin is a cholesterol-lowering drug used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Various studies have shown the effects of pitavastatin on angiogenesis but the conclusions are contradictory. The effects of pitavastatin on retinal angiogenesis have not been revealed. This study investigated the effects of pitavastatin at clinically relevant concentrations on retinal angiogenesis and its underlying mechanisms using retinal microvascular endothelial cells (RMECs).

Methods

The effects of pitavastatin on retinal angiogenesis were determined using in vitro model of retinal angiogenesis, endothelial cell migration, adhesion, proliferation, and apoptosis assays. The mechanism studies were conducted using immunoblotting and stress fiber staining.

Results

Pitavastatin stimulated capillary network formation of RMECs in a similar manner as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Pitavastatin also increased RMEC migration, adhesion to Matrigel, growth, and survival. The combination of pitavastatin with VEGF or LPS was more effective than VEGF or LPS alone in stimulating biological activities of RMECs, suggesting that pitavastatin can enhance the stimulatory effects of VEGF and LPS on retinal angiogenesis. Pitavastatin acted on RMECs in a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase-independent manner. In contrast, pitavastatin activated pro-angiogenic microenvironment via promoting the secretion of VEGF and stimulated retinal angiogenesis via multiple mechanisms including activation of RhoA-mediated pathways, induction of focal adhesion complex formation, and activation of ERK pathway.

Conclusion

Our work provides a preclinical evidence on the pro-angiogenic effect of pitavastatin in retina via multiple mechanisms that are irrelevant to mevalonate pathway.

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Data availability

The datasets generated and analyzed during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

Hubei Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission Youth Talent Project (WJ2017Q039) provided financial support in the form of research funding. The sponsor had no role in the design or conduct of this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, China

    Zhi Li, Jing Zhang, Yanni Xue, Ying He & Min Ke

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Wuchang Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

    Lanlan Tang

  3. Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, China

    Yan Gong

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  1. Zhi Li
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Correspondence to Min Ke or Yan Gong.

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Zhi Li, Jing Zhang and Yanni Xue have contributed equally to this work and are co-first authors

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Li, Z., Zhang, J., Xue, Y. et al. Pitavastatin stimulates retinal angiogenesis via HMG-CoA reductase-independent activation of RhoA-mediated pathways and focal adhesion. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 259, 2707–2716 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-021-05328-4

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