Atorvastatin reduces alcohol-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in AC16 cardiomyocytes

Objectives. To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on the ultrastructure and lipid metabolism of AC16 cardiomyocytes in response to alcohol-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Design. The expression of the ERS-related factor GRP78 in the established ERS model was determined by western blotting. Alcohol-exposed cardiomyocytes were treated with various concentrations of atorvastatin, and GRP78 expression was measured. Cardiomyocyte ultrastructure was observed and SREBP-1c and triglyceride (TG) levels were evaluated. Results. Exposure to ethanol for 0, 12, 24, and 48 h significantly affected GRP78 expression (0.19 +/- 0.02, 0.27 +/- 0.03, 0.39 +/- 0.01, and 0.64 +/- 0.02, respectively). GRP78 expression in the 1, 10, and 100 mu mol L-1 atorvastatin-treated groups was 0.50 +/- 0.04, 0.38 +/- 0.03, and 0.24 +/- 0.01, respectively, and significantly different from control group expression (0.19 +/- 0.02); the expression in the alcohol group was 0.64 +/- 0.02. Alcohol-treated AC16 cells had significantly larger and fewer mitochondria and disorganized cristae, often replaced by vacuoles. These aberrations decreased with increasing atorvastatin concentrations. SREBP-1c expression also differed significantly among all atorvastatin-treated and control groups (0.47 +/- 0.04, 0.39 +/- 0.03, and 0.31 +/- 0.02; normal 0.25 +/- 0.02; alcohol 0.56 +/- 0.03). TG expression differed significantly between the 10 and 100 mu mol L-1 groups (26.84 +/- 1.63, 23.11 +/- 2.05) and the alcohol group (36.35 +/- 2.41). Conclusions. Atorvastatin inhibited the expression of the ERS-related factor GRP78 in response to alcohol exposure, improved cell morphology, and enhanced lipid metabolism in a cellular model of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.