Figure 4

Simvastatin induces the expression of CCL20 (MIP-3α) and Caspase-1 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 evaluated by RT-PCR. (A) IL-13 did not induce caspase-1 expression. Treatment with simvastatin induced caspase-1 expression by 285% in the control group (*p < 0.005 by ANOVA) and by 310% in the IL-13 group (**p < 0.005 by ANOVA). (B) IL-13 did not induce CCL20 expression. Treatment with simvastatin induced CCL20 expression by 451% in the control group (p = NS by ANOVA or t-test) and by 441% in the IL-13 group (^#p = NS by ANOVA, but p = 0.011 by t-test)