Sizing up stability: combination therapy with Apo-AI peptide mimetics and statins in systemic lupus erythematosus-mediated atherosclerosis.
In a study published recently in Arthritis Research & Therapy, Woo and colleagues investigated the effects of pravastatin in combination with an apolipoprotein-AI (Apo-AI) mimetic peptide in a mouse model of lupus-accelerated atherosclerosis. Combination treatment resulted in a significant decrease in systemic inflammation but increased aortic root lesion size. However, this treatment changed the phenotype of the lesion to a more stable plaque. Because plaque stability is also important for protection against the deadly manifestations of atherosclerosis, combination therapies using Apo-AI mimetics and statin might offer a good additional therapy to treat autoimmunity and cardiovascular disease in patients with lupus.
Mendez-Fernandez
Yanice
Y
Major
Amy
A
D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000008:administration & dosage; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications; D051379:Mice; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; C472885:L-4F peptide; D010455:Peptides; D017035:Pravastatin