Reduction of soluble P-selectin by statins is inversely correlated with the progression of coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
Cell adhesion molecules (CAM) play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by mediating the binding of leukocytes to the endothelium. Soluble CAM isoforms are known to be elevated in the sera of patients suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD).


METHODS
We measured the concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, P-selectin, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the blood of 47 CAD patients before and 6 months after starting statin therapy and in 16 untreated CAD patients. The progression of CAD was monitored by calculating the coronary calcium score using electron beam computed tomography.


RESULTS
Soluble P-selectin (92+/-11 ng/ml vs. 59 +/- 4 ng/ml, p < 0.0001) and hs-CRP (0.92 +/- 0.14 mg/dl vs. 0.42 +/- 0.11 mg/dl, p < 0.001) decreased significantly in the statin-treated group compared to baseline levels. None of the other proteins studied showed significant changes. In contrast to hs-CRP, the reduction of soluble P-selectin concentrations correlated directly with the lowering of total cholesterol (r(2) = 0.236, p < 0.005) and inversely with the progression of CAD (r(2) = 0.393, p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest P-selectin as an additional marker for the beneficial action of statins in patients with CAD.
Marschang
Peter
P
Clinical Division of General Internal Medicine, Clinical Department of Internal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Austria.
Friedrich
Guy J
GJ
Ditlbacher
Heidi
H
Stoeger
Alfons
A
Nedden
Dieter Zur
DZ
Kirchmair
Rudolf
R
Dienstl
Anton
A
Pachinger
Otmar
O
Patsch
Josef R
JR
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000097:blood; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
D019040:E-Selectin; C101134:ESM1 protein, human; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019007:P-Selectin; D011509:Proteoglycans; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002097:C-Reactive Protein