title: FOS expression in blood as a LDL-independent marker of statin treatment.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Translational Medicine Branch, Cardiology Section National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Ju-Gyeong
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ho Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Sarah I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Jawed
authors.forename: Cynthia L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Brenneman
authors.forename: Yesoda N
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Salman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sher
authors.forename: Flavia M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Facio
authors.forename: Leslie G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Biesecker
authors.forename: Arshed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Quyyumi
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sachdev
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol