Recent studies have suggested that inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (statins) can play a role in protection against vascular risk, which is independent of cholesterol reduction. It could act by inhibiting the synthesis of isoprenoids (farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP)), which are respectively essential for membrane attachment and biological activity of GTPases Ras and RhoA. This study demonstrates that a statin (cerivastatin) inhibits angiogenesis. This effect was due to a decrease in endothelial cell locomotion which was reversed by GGPP. It was mainly related to delocalization of RhoA from cell membrane to cytoplasm, responsible for the disorganization of actin stress fibers. Furthermore, a decrease in MMP-2 secretion, involved in cell invasion, was also observed. This effect is rather due to Ras inhibition as it was reversed by FPP. This antiangiogenic activity could explain the beneficial effect of statins on atherosclerosis and on cancer prevention as shown by clinical studies. ß

Abstract-Cerivastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase. It inhibits the biosynthesis of cholesterol and its precursors: farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP), which are involved in Ras and RhoA cell signaling, respectively. Statins induce greater protection against vascular risk than that expected by cholesterol reduction. Therefore, cerivastatin could protect plaque against rupture, an important cause of ischemic events. In this study, the effect of cerivastatin was tested on angiogenesis because it participates in plaque progression and plaque destabilization. Cerivastatin inhibits in vitro the microvascular endothelial cell proliferation induced by growth factors, whereas it has no effect on unstimulated cells. This growth arrest occurs at the G 1 /S phase and is related to the increase of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 Waf1/Cip1 . These effects are reversed by GGPP, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of cerivastatin is related to RhoA inactivation. This mechanism was confirmed by RhoA delocalization from cell membrane to cytoplasm and actin fiber depolymerization, which are also prevented by GGPP. It was also shown that RhoA-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation is mediated by the inhibition of focal adhesion kinase and Akt activations. Moreover, cerivastatin inhibits in vivo angiogenesis in matrigel and chick chorioallantoic membrane models. These results demonstrate the antiangiogenic activity of statins and suggest that it may contribute to their therapeutic benefits in the progression and acute manifestations of atherosclerosis.