Atorvastatin Sensitises Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells, but not Endothelial Cells, to TNF-alpha-induced Cell Death

Objective. Stimuli activating vascular smooth muscle cell death can constrain the neointimal response to arterial damage and prevent vascular thickening. Conversely, endothelial cell death increases endothelial dysfunction and thrombosis risk. We investigated the combined effect of atorvastatin and TNF-alpha on vascular cell death.