Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIM: To investigate the effects of lipid-lowering drugs such as peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor α (PPARα) ligands on human skeletal muscle cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: WST-1 assay was applied to determine the cytotoxicity of benzafibrate and atorvastatin to human embryo rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells. Enzymatic activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) were measured by automatic biochemistry analyzer and Hoechest 33342 staining was used to assess apoptosis. RESULTS: Bezafibrate markedly inhibited the proliferation of RD cells, reduced CK activity and caused apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Toxicity was enhanced in the co-administration of benzafibrate with atorvastatin. CONCLUSION: Benzafibrate as a PPARα ligand induced obvious cytotoxicity on RD cells and demonstrated synergistic interaction with atorvastain.

Key words: peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor α, fibrates, myopathy