Role of simvastatin and RORα activity in the macrophage apoptotic pathway.

Abstract

Objective: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition and is one of the main causes of death worldwide. Macrophages play important roles in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Apoptosis is progressively observed while plaques develop, although the precise mechanisms and outcomes of apoptosis in atherosclerosis development and progression are still contradictory. This study was conducted to explore the effects of simvastatin and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor alpha (ROR alpha) ligands on apoptosis in human acute monocytic leukemia (THP-1) macrophage cells.