The expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and C-C chemokine receptor 2 in post-kidney transplant patients and the influence of simvastatin treatment.
BACKGROUND
Inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in post-kidney transplantation.


METHODS
Sixty patients, selected from 167 renal transplant patients, were divided into 2 groups: Group A (normal lipidemia group, n=30) and Group B (hyperlipidemia group, n=30). In addition, Control Group came from 30 healthy volunteers. In Group B, the patients were treated with simvastatin for 3 months. The mRNA expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 were detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
The mRNA expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 of all post-kidney transplant patients were significantly higher than controls. Compare Group A with Group B and the mRNA expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 in Group B were much higher than Group A. After simvastatin treatment, the mRNA expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 were significantly reduced in one and a half months and decreased to the lowest levels in three months.


CONCLUSIONS
Simvastatin decreased the expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 in post-kidney transplant patients with hyperlipidemia.
Wang
Jun
J
Department of Nephrology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 52 Meihua Dong Road, Zhuhai 519000, Guangdong, PR China.
Zou
Hequn
H
Li
Qingqin
Q
Wang
Yuxin
Y
Xu
Qinjun
Q
D000328:Adult; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D054390:Receptors, CCR2; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
C111835:CCL2 protein, human; C515334:CCR2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D008055:Lipids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054390:Receptors, CCR2; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D019821:Simvastatin