Figure 3

Simvastatin inhibits the expression of Osteopontin (SPP1) in mouse primary tracheal epithelial cells. Mouse primary tracheal epithelial cells grown in air-liquid interface (ALI) were pre-treated with simvastatin (Sim, 10 μM) for 24 hrs, then stimulated with IL-13 (20 ng/mL) and co-incubated with Sim for 48 hrs (total Sim exposure of 72 hrs). Gene expression was measured by RT-PCR. In the control group, Sim inhibited the expression of osteopontin by 95.5% (*p < 0.05 by ANOVA) independent of IL-13 stimulation, and in the IL-13 group Sim decreased osteopontin expression by 93.6% (**p < 0.05 by ANOVA)