Effects of lovastatin on the immune system.
Laboratory investigations have demonstrated that blockade of HMG-CoA reductase in vitro reduces lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogens as well as other facets of the immune system, such as natural killer cell cytotoxicity. However, in this randomized and double-blind clinical investigation, treatment with 20-mg lovastatin for 6 months did not significantly alter several enumerative and functional characteristics of circulating immune cells.
Muldoon
M F
MF
Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
Flory
J D
JD
Marsland
A
A
Manuck
S B
SB
Whiteside
T L
TL
Rabin
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008148:Lovastatin