Preservation of NO production by statins in the treatment of heart failure

Objective: Because statins promote endogenous nitric oxide (NO) production in vessels by increasing endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), we evaluated the clinical benefit and efficiency of simvastatin in preventing the decrease in NO control of coronary blood flow (CBF), NO regulation of myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) and decreased nitrite production in coronary microvessels, associated with pacing-induced heart failure (HF). Methods: Dogs (n = 17) were instrumented for measurement of coronary blood flow and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP). HF was induced by pacing. Ten dogs were given simvastatin 20 mg/kg/day orally (HF + SIMVA) from the 10th day of pacing. Results: HF + SIMVA had a lower LVEDP at 4 weeks of pacing (18 +/- 1 vs. 25 +/- 1 min Hg, p < 0.05), and the NO-dependent coronary vasodilation to veratrine was preserved compared to HF (p < 0.05). In coronary microvessels, SIMVA potentiated nitrite production compared to HF (p < 0.05) and enhanced the NO-dependent decrease in MVO2 in cardiac tissue in response to 10(-4) mol/l bradykinin, which was markedly blunted in HF (p < 0.05). Using Western blotting, there was a reduction in eNOS protein during HF that was preserved at 4-5 weeks of pacing during treatment with SIMVA. Conclusions: Simvastatin maintained NO production by coronary vessels and NO bioactivity during pacing-induced dilated cardiomyopathy. Targeting the endothelium, which participates in the control of myocardial metabolism by NO, may be an important mechanism of action of statins in the treatment of heart failure. (C) 2003 European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.