Inhibition of MCP-1/CCR2 signaling pathway is involved in synergistic inhibitory effects of irbesartan with rosuvastatin on vascular remodeling

Additional beneficial effects of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blockers beyond AT1 receptor blockade have been highlighted. Irbesartan is reported to act as an antagonist of the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) receptor, C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2). We examined the possible synergistic effects of the combination of irbesartan with rosuvastatin on preventing vascular remodeling focusing on the MCP-1/CCR2 pathway. We observed that administration of irbesartan and CCR2 antagonist, propagermanium, at noneffective doses, decreased the neointima with a decrease in PCNA labeling index in the injured mouse femoral artery induced by cuff placement. We also observed that administration of a noneffective dose of rosuvastatin with propagermanium decreased the neointima area, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of rosuvastatin on neointima formation is at least partly attributable to blockade of the MCP-1/CCR2 pathway. Moreover, we demonstrated that the combination of irbesartan with rosuvastatin decreased neointima formation. MCP-1 mRNA level was significantly increased in injured femoral arteries, and administration of irbesartan with rosuvastatin decreased the mRNA levels of MCP-1, TNFα, and IL-1β, and increased PPARγ mRNA expression. These results suggest that the synergistic inhibitory effects of irbesartan with rosuvastatin on neointima formation may involve attenuation of MCP-1/CCR2 signaling.