FOS expression in blood as a LDL-independent marker of statin treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The expression of FOS, a gene critical for monocyte and macrophage function, can be inhibited by statins through the disruption of a cholesterol-independent signaling pathway. In this pilot study, we hypothesized that blood FOS mRNA levels will be sensitive to statin treatment independent of LDL cholesterol levels.


METHODS
Three cohorts at increased risk of or with cardiovascular disease (CVD) were studied. Blood FOS mRNA levels were measured before and after statin treatment or in patients under stable treatment.


RESULTS
Statin treatment for three months significantly reduced blood FOS mRNA and LDL cholesterol levels. However, in subjects with similar LDL levels achieved by different doses of long term statin treatment, there was an inverse relationship between statin dose and FOS expression.


CONCLUSIONS
FOS mRNA levels appear to be a sensitive marker of statin treatment that is dissociated from cholesterol levels.
Kang
Ju-Gyeong
JG
Translational Medicine Branch, Cardiology Section National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Sung
Ho Joong
HJ
Jawed
Sarah I
SI
Brenneman
Cynthia L
CL
Rao
Yesoda N
YN
Sher
Salman
S
Facio
Flavia M
FM
Biesecker
Leslie G
LG
Quyyumi
Arshed A
AA
Sachdev
Vandana
V
Hwang
Paul M
PM
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D016762:Genes, fos; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007249:Inflammation; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol