Effect of atorvastatin on cellular adhesion molecules on leukocytes in patients with normocholesterolemic coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
Expression of cellular adhesion molecules on leukocytes plays a key role in coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of the present study was to assess whether atorvastatin therapy has an impact on the expression of cellular adhesion molecules on leukocytes in patients with normocholesterolemic CAD.


METHODS
In 54 patients with CAD and atorvastatin treatment and 54 CAD patients without atorvastatin therapy, expression of CD40L, CD11a, CD11b, CD54, CD62L and CD41 on leukocytes was measured using flow cytometry. All patients were normocholesterolemic.


RESULTS
Atorvastatin treatment led to a significantly lower expression of CD40L, CD11b and CD54 on monocytes (p<0.05) and neutrophils (p<0.05). Expression of CD11a was significantly lower on monocytes (p<0.05) in atorvastatin-treated patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results indicate that atorvastatin apparently improves chronic inflammation and may have a beneficial effect on hemostasis by reducing the expression of cellular adhesion molecules on leukocytes.
Walter
Thomas
T
University Medical Centre Mannheim, First Department of Medicine, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany. thomas.walter.med@umm.de
Suselbeck
Tim
T
Borggrefe
Martin
M
Swoboda
Stefanie
S
Hoffmeister
Hans Martin
HM
Dempfle
Carl-Erik
CE
D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D040881:CD11a Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D040201:Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb / Q000378:metabolism; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D040881:CD11a Antigen; D039481:CD11b Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; C509295:ITGAM protein, human; D040201:Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb; D011758:Pyrroles; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D019041:L-Selectin; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin