Simvastatin treatment reduces heat shock protein 60, 65, and 70 antibody titers in dyslipidemic patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of statin therapy on serum levels of antibodies to several specific heat shock proteins (HSPs) in dyslipidemic patients.


METHODS
Participants (n=102) were treated with simvastatin (40mg/day), or placebo in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. Anti-HSP60, 65, 70, and hs-CRP levels were measured before and after each treatment period. Seventy-seven subjects completed the study.


RESULTS
Treatment with simvastatin was associated with significant reductions in serum anti-HSP60, 65, and 70 titers in the dyslipidemic patients (10%, 14%, and 15% decrease, respectively) (p<0.001). There have been previous reports of reductions in serum CRP with statin treatment, and although median CRP levels were 9% lower on simvastatin treatment, this did not achieve statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
While it is unclear whether HSP antibodies are directly involved in atherogenesis, our findings suggest that simvastatin inhibits autoimmune responses that may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.
Moohebati
Mohsen
M
Cardiovascular Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Science (MUMS), Mashhad, Iran; Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, MUMS, Mashhad, Iran.
Bidmeshgi
Shirin
S
Azarpazhooh
Mahmoud R
MR
Daloee
Mahdi Hassanzadeh
MH
Ghayour-Mobarhan
Majid
M
Tavallaie
Shima
S
Amini
Maral
M
Momenzadeh
Akram
A
Sahebkar
Amirhossein
A
Paydar
Roghayeh
R
Rahsepar
Amir A
AA
Parizadeh
Seyyed M R
SM
Akhlaghi
Saeed
S
Ferns
Gordon A A
GA
D018834:Chaperonin 60; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D050171:Dyslipidemias; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018834:Chaperonin 60; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin