TY - JOUR
T1 - Simvastatin and atorvastatin reduce the mechanical properties of tendon constructs in vitro and introduce catabolic changes in the gene expression pattern
AU - Eliasson, Pernilla
AU - Svensson, Rene B
AU - Giannopoulos, Antonis
AU - Eismark, Christian
AU - Kjær, Michael
AU - Schjerling, Peter
AU - Heinemeier, Katja M
PY - 2017/3/1
Y1 - 2017/3/1
N2 - Treatment with lipid-lowering drugs, statins, is common all over the world. Lately, the occurrence of spontaneous tendon ruptures or tendinosis have suggested a negative influence of statins upon tendon tissue. But how statins might influence tendons is not clear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of statin treatment on mechanical strength, cell proliferation, collagen content and gene expression pattern in a tendon-like tissue made from human tenocytes in vitro. Human tendon fibroblasts were grown in a 3D tissue culture model (tendon constructs), and treated with either simvastatin or atorvastatin, low or high dose, respectively, for up to seven days. After seven days of treatment, mechanical testing of the constructs was performed. Collagen content and cell proliferation were also determined. mRNA levels of several target genes were measured after one or seven days. The maximum force and stiffness were reduced by both statins after 7 days (p<0.05), while the cross sectional area was unaffected. Further, the collagen content was reduced by atorvastatin (p = 0.01) and the cell proliferation rate was decreased by both types of statins (p<0.05). Statin treatment also introduced increased mRNA levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, TIMP-1 and decreased levels of collagen type 1 and 3. In conclusion, statin treatment appears to have a negative effect on tendon matrix quality as seen by a reduced strength of the tendon constructs. Further, activated catabolic changes in the gene expression pattern and a reduced collagen content indicated a disturbed balance in matrix production of tendon due to statin administration.
AB - Treatment with lipid-lowering drugs, statins, is common all over the world. Lately, the occurrence of spontaneous tendon ruptures or tendinosis have suggested a negative influence of statins upon tendon tissue. But how statins might influence tendons is not clear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of statin treatment on mechanical strength, cell proliferation, collagen content and gene expression pattern in a tendon-like tissue made from human tenocytes in vitro. Human tendon fibroblasts were grown in a 3D tissue culture model (tendon constructs), and treated with either simvastatin or atorvastatin, low or high dose, respectively, for up to seven days. After seven days of treatment, mechanical testing of the constructs was performed. Collagen content and cell proliferation were also determined. mRNA levels of several target genes were measured after one or seven days. The maximum force and stiffness were reduced by both statins after 7 days (p<0.05), while the cross sectional area was unaffected. Further, the collagen content was reduced by atorvastatin (p = 0.01) and the cell proliferation rate was decreased by both types of statins (p<0.05). Statin treatment also introduced increased mRNA levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, TIMP-1 and decreased levels of collagen type 1 and 3. In conclusion, statin treatment appears to have a negative effect on tendon matrix quality as seen by a reduced strength of the tendon constructs. Further, activated catabolic changes in the gene expression pattern and a reduced collagen content indicated a disturbed balance in matrix production of tendon due to statin administration.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Atorvastatin Calcium
KW - Cell Proliferation
KW - Cells, Cultured
KW - Collagen
KW - Energy Metabolism
KW - Fibroblasts
KW - Gene Expression Regulation
KW - Humans
KW - Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
KW - Matrix Metalloproteinases
KW - Mechanical Phenomena
KW - Simvastatin
KW - Tendon Injuries
KW - Tendons
KW - Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1
KW - Young Adult
KW - Journal Article
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0172797
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0172797
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 28264197
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 12
JO - PLoS Computational Biology
JF - PLoS Computational Biology
IS - 3
M1 - e0172797
ER -