Atorvastatin modulates Th1/Th2 response in patients with chronic heart failure.
BACKGROUND
The T-helper (Th)1/Th2 imbalance has been demonstrated to be involved in chronic heart failure (CHF). We sought to determine whether atorvastatin exhibited any effect on CHF through modulating the Th1/Th2 response.


RESULTS
We measured serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-12, -18, interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10 from 20 controls and 72 patients with nonischemic CHF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To investigate the effect of atorvastatin in vivo, CHF patients were either classified into a usual therapy group (n = 35) or usual therapy plus atorvastatin (10 mg/day) group (n = 37). Patient serum levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4 were measured at time of admission and 2 weeks after treatment. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients of CHF group were cultured in the presence or absence of atorvastatin (0, 0.4, 1, and 4 micromol/L) in vitro, and IFN-gamma and IL-4 levels were detected. Serum levels of IL-12, IL-18, and IFN-gamma were significantly higher in the CHF group than in the control group. The levels of IFN-gamma and the ratios of IFN-gamma:IL-4 were significantly decreased with atorvastatin treatment both in vivo and in vitro, whereas levels of IL-4 did not differ significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Th1 polarization exists in patients with CHF, and atorvastatin can modulate the Th1/Th2 response through inhibiting Th1 cytokine production.
Cheng
Xiang
X
Laboratory of Cardiovascular Immunology, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. nathancx@hotmail.com
Ding
Yingjun
Y
Xia
Chunyan
C
Tang
Tingting
T
Yu
Xian
X
Xie
Jiangjiao
J
Liao
Mengyang
M
Yao
Rui
R
Chen
Yong
Y
Wang
Min
M
Liao
Yu-Hua
YH
D000069059:Atorvastatin; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects*
D015415:Biomarkers; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D020382:Interleukin-18; D011758:Pyrroles; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000069059:Atorvastatin