title: Angiotensin II type 1 and type 2 receptor expression in circulating monocytes of diabetic and hypercholesterolemic patients over 3-month rosuvastatin treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In diabetes, a variety of pro-inflammatory cellular changes has been found in various cell types, including monocytes which are known to be involved in all the phases of atherogenesis. Angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor (AT1R) mediates the pro-atherogenic effects of Ang II whereas the type 2 receptor (AT2R) seems associated with atheroprotection. We sought to investigate the potential changes of AT1R-AT2R expression in human monocytes of type 2 diabetic- hypercholesterolemic patients and in hypercholesterolemic subjects, upon clinical treatment with rosuvastatin.
  
  
  METHODS
  The AT1R membrane protein and mRNA AT1R and AT2R expression in monocytes were investigated in 10 type 2 diabetic-hypercholesterolemic patients and in 10 hypercholesterolemic subjects, before and after 3-month rosuvastatin treatment. Moreover, the serum cytokine levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As expected, rosuvastatin was associated with a change in the lipid profile in the two groups. Both the membrane protein (P = 0.008) and the AT1R mRNA expression (P = 0.038) were significantly reduced during treatment in the absence of AT2R expression change in diabetic-hypercholesterolemic patients whereas no significant difference was observed in hypercholesterolemic subjects. The serum IL-4 levels were increased during treatment whereas no change was observed in IFN-γ in diabetic-hypercholesterolemic patients. No cytokine change was observed in hypercholesterolemic subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study on monocytes of diabetic-hypercholesterolemic patients, showing a reduced AT1R but not AT2R expression during rosuvastatin treatment, suggests that statin therapy may modulate favorably the AT1-AT2 receptor balance in subjects with coexistent type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: Andrea Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Maresca
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosentino
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castiglioni
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rasini
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mongiardi
authors.forename: Ramona C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Maio
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Legnaro
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schembri
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dentali
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Grandi
authors.forename: Luigina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guasti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium