Dose-dependent effects of simvastatin, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin on apoptosis and inflammation pathways on cancerous lung cells

The aim of study was to investigate the anti-proliferative and inflammatory effects of atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin in lung cancer. The effects of statins were investigated in Vero, BEAS-2B, and A549 cell lines. In addition to expressions of BAX, BCL-2, TNFα, IL-10, IL-6 , protein levels of TNFα, IL-10, IL-6 were determined. Cell viability and MDA were also measured. While the cell numbers in groups with low doses of statins were found to be approximately 1x10 6 /mL, proliferation was inhibited at higher rates containing high doses. Simvastatin, rosuvastatin, and high dose atorvastatin upregulated the BAX , while high dose of atorvastatin and both doses of rosuvastatin caused downregulation in BCL-2 . All statin groups had higher MDA. Simvastatin and high dose rosuvastatin upregulated TNFα . While low dose simvastatin and atorvastatin and high dose atorvastatin and rosuvastatin upregulated IL-10 , IL-6 was upregulated with a low dose of rosuvastatin. TNFα was higher in simvastatin and rosuvastatin groups. IL-10 was highest in rosuvastatin groups. Atorvastatin groups had lower IL-6. Although cell numbers have been reduced by all statins, rosuvastatin is more effective on studied genes.