Statin-specific inhibition of Rab-GTPase regulates cPKC-mediated IKs internalization

Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 28;9(1):17747. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53700-6.

Abstract

Statins are prescribed for prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease. Statins have different cholesterol lowering abilities, with rosuvastatin and atorvastatin being the most effective, while statins like simvastatin and fluvastatin having lower effectiveness. Statins, in addition to their cholesterol lowering effects, can prevent isoprenylation of Rab-GTPase proteins, a protein family important for the regulation of membrane-bound protein trafficking. Here we show that endosomal localization of Rab-GTPases (Rab5, Rab7 and Rab11) was inhibited in a statin-specific manner, with stronger effects by fluvastatin, followed by simvastatin and atorvastatin, and with a limited effect by rosuvastatin. Fluvastatin inhibition of Rab5 has been shown to mediate cPKC-dependent trafficking regulation of the cardiac delayed rectifier KCNQ1/KCNE1 channels. We observed statin-specific inhibition of channel regulation consistent with statin-specific Rab-GTPase inhibition both in heterologous systems and cardiomyocytes. Our results uncover a non-cholesterol-reducing statin-specific effect of statins. Because Rab-GTPases are important regulators of membrane trafficking they may underlie statin specific pleiotropic effects. Therefore, statin-specificity may allow better treatment tailoring.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atorvastatin / pharmacology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Fluvastatin / pharmacology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rosuvastatin Calcium / pharmacology
  • Simvastatin / pharmacology
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated
  • Fluvastatin
  • Rosuvastatin Calcium
  • Atorvastatin
  • Simvastatin
  • Protein Kinase C
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins