title: On the combined effect of statins and lycopene on cytokine production by human peripheral blood cells.
abstract: Since both statins and lycopene exert immunomodulatory activities following incubation with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), the present work was designed to examine whether they may induce a synergistic or antagonistic effect on cytokine production while applied together. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from 15 healthy subjects were incubated for 24 h as follows: (1) without and with 0.125 or 0.25 microM lycopene, (2) without and with 10 or 50 mM pravastatin or simvastatin, and (3) with lycopene and with one of the statins together at the respective doses. The production of the following cytokines was assessed: interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-1ra, IL-2, and IL-10, as well as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and interferon gamma (IFNgamma). The results showed that lycopene and simvastatin applied together reduced TNFalpha and IFNgamma secretion, and abolished the increased production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1gamma caused by incubation with simvastatin only, an observation suggesting that simultaneous administration of both substances may reduce inflammatory responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine C, Rabin Medical Center, Hasharon Hospital, Petah-Tiqva, Israel.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: Meir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djaldetti
authors.forename: Hertzel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bessler
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D000077276:Lycopene; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C507763:IL1RN protein, human; C508594:IL2 protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D002338:Carotenoids; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019821:Simvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin; D000077276:Lycopene