title: Association of statins with inflammatory cytokines: a population-based Colaus study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A pleiotropic effect of statins has been reported in numerous studies. However, the association between statin use and inflammatory cytokines is controversial. We examined the associations between statin use and C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in a healthy Caucasian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of 6184 participants aged 35-75 years from Lausanne, Switzerland. Cytokines were assessed by multiplexed particle-based flow cytometric assay. Self-reported history of medication was collected for statins and other medication. 99 participants without cytokine data were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 6085 participants, 2289 (37.6%), 451 (7.4%) and 43 (0.7%) had IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels below detection limits, respectively. On multivariate analysis adjusting for age, gender, smoking status, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, baseline cardiovascular disease, total cholesterol, anti-inflammatory use, other cytokine modifying drugs and other drugs, participants on statins had significantly lower CRP levels (adjusted mean±standard error: 1.22±1.05 vs. 1.38±1.04 mg/L for use and non-use, respectively, p<0.01 on log-transformed data). Conversely, no association was found between statin use and IL-1β (p=0.91), IL-6 (p=0.25) or TNF-α (p=0.28) levels. On multivariate analysis, individuals in the statin group (β coefficient=-0.12; 95% CI=-0.21, -0.03) had lower levels of CRP as compared to those in the reference group (i.e. those not using statin). However, no significant associations were observed between IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and statins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals on statins have lower CRP levels; conversely, no effect was found for IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), CHUV and Faculty of Biology and Medicine, Biopôle 1-Route de la Corniche 2, CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland. Tanica.Lyngdoh@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Tanica
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lyngdoh
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vollenweider
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Waeber
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marques-Vidal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013557:Switzerland; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein