Atorvastatin reduces plasma levels of chemokine (CXCL10) in patients with Crohn's disease.
BACKGROUND
In Crohn's disease high tissue expression and serum levels of chemokines and their receptors are known to correlate with disease activity. Because statins can reduce chemokine expression in patients with coronary diseases, we wanted to test whether this can be achieved in patients with Crohn's disease.


RESULTS
We investigated plasma levels of chemokines (CCL2, CCL4, CCL11, CCL13, CCL17, CCL22, CCL26, CXCL8, CXCL10) and endothelial cytokines (sP-selectin, sE-selectin, sICAM-3, thrombomodulin) in ten Crohn's disease patients before and after thirteen weeks' daily treatment with 80 mg atorvastatin. Of the 13 substances investigated, only CXCL10 was found to be significantly reduced (by 34%, p = 0.026) in all of the treated patients. Levels of CXCL10 correlated with C-reactive protein (r = 0.82, p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
CXCL10 is a ligand for the CXCR3 receptor, the activation of which results in the recruitment of T lymphocytes and the perpetuation of mucosal inflammation. Hence the reduction of plasma CXCL10 levels by atorvastatin may represent a candidate for an approach to the treatment of Crohns disease in the future.


BACKGROUND
(ClinicalTrials.gov) NCT00454545.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, University Hospital MAS, Malmö, Sweden. olof.grip@med.lu.se
Olof
O
Grip
Sabina
S
Janciauskiene
D000328:Adult; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000097:blood*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
C114753:CXCL10 protein, human; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D016207:Cytokines; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin