Atorvastatin hemicalcium salt (Atorvastatin Calcium), an effective HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (IC50 = 8 nM), is utilized as a cholesterol-lowering medication.

In rats treated with statins, Atorvastatin reduces the vascular mRNA expression of p22phox and NOX1 while enhancing the expression of aortic hydrogen peroxide dismutase. In rabbits fed with cholesterol, Atorvastatin inhibits the increase in serum levels of C-reactive protein.

In vascular smooth muscle cells, Atorvastatin (0.1 μM) inhibits the activation of NF-κB induced by angiotensin II and tumor necrosis factor-alpha; at a concentration of Atorvastatin (1 μM), it reduces the expression of IP-10 induced by angiotensin II and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Briefly, SV-SMC from 5 different patients are seeded into 24-well cell culture plates at a density of 1×104?cells per well in full growth medium. Cells are incubated overnight and then quiesced in serum free medium for 3 days before transfer to full growth medium (10% FCS) containing 5 different statins (simvastatin, atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, and pravastatin)at a range of concentrations. All statins are tested on cells from each individual patient. Medium and drugs are replaced after 2 days, and viable cell numbers are determined in triplicate wells after 4 days using Trypan Blue and a hemocytometer. The increase in cell number is calculated by subtracting the starting cell number (day 0) from the final cell number (day 4). Data are then normalized to control values (no statin) to correct for differences in proliferation rates between cells from different patients.