Lymphocyte-suppressing action of simvastatin in patients with isolated hypertriglyceridemia.
BACKGROUND
No previous study examined whether statins affect lymphocyte cytokine release in patients with isolated hypertriglyceridemia.


METHODS
The study included 46 patients with elevated triglyceride levels and peripheral artery stenosis, randomly assigned to receive simvastatin or placebo. Plasma lipids, glucose homeostasis markers, plasma C-reactive protein and lymphocyte cytokine release were measured at baseline and at the end of the treatment.


RESULTS
Ninety-day simvastatin treatment reduced lymphocyte release of TNF-α, interleukin-2 and interferon-γ, which was accompanied by a decrease in plasma C-reactive protein.


CONCLUSIONS
The obtained results suggest that statins produce lymphocyte-suppressing and systemic anti-inflammatory effects in patients with isolated hypertriglyceridemia.
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. r.krysiak@interia.pl
Robert
R
Krysiak
Bogusław
B
Okopień
D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D019821:Simvastatin