Clinical studies
Simvastatin inhibits the monocyte expression of proinflammatory cytokines in patients with hypercholesterolemia

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess if simvastatin has an anti-inflammatory activity in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND

Simvastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, reduced cardiovascular events in patients with myocardial infarction and hypercholesterolemia.

METHODS

Sixteen patients with polygenic hypercholesterolemia were randomly allocated to diet (n = 8) or diet plus 20 mg/day simvastatin (n = 8) for eight weeks. Before and at the end of treatment period, lipid profile and monocyte expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured.

RESULTS

At baseline no difference in lipid profile and monocyte expression of TNF and IL-1β were observed between the two groups. In patients allocated to diet alone, no change in lipid profile and monocyte expression of TNF and IL-1β was seen. In patients with diet plus simvastatin, significant decreases of total cholesterol (−27%, p < 0.02), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (−33%, p < 0.02), and monocyte expression of TNF (−49%, p < 0.02) and IL-1β (−35%, p < 0.02) were observed. At the end of treatment period, patients treated with simvastatin had lower cholesterol and monocyte TNF and IL-1β than did patients assigned to diet alone.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that simvastatin possesses anti-inflammatory activity via the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-1β expressed by monocytes.

Abbreviations

HDL-C
high density lipoprotein cholesterol
HMG-CoA
3-hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A
IL-1β
interleukin 1-beta
LDL-C
low density lipoprotein cholesterol
TC
total cholesterol
TNF
tumor necrosis factor-alpha

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