Neither T-helper type 2 nor Foxp3+ regulatory T cells are necessary for therapeutic benefit of atorvastatin in treatment of central nervous system autoimmunity.
Oral atorvastatin has prevented or reversed paralysis in the multiple sclerosis (MS) model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), and reduced development of new MS lesions in clinical trials. Besides inhibiting development of encephalitogenic T cells, atorvastatin treatment of EAE has been associated with an induction of anti-inflammatory myelin-reactive T-helper type (Th)-2 cells. To investigate the clinical significance of atorvastatin-mediated Th2 differentiation, we first evaluated atorvastatin treatment in interleukin (IL)-4 green fluorescent protein-enhanced transcript (4-GET) reporter mice. Atorvastatin treatment failed to induce IL-4-producing Th2 cells in vivo; however, when T cells from atorvastatin-treated 4-GET mice were reactivated in vitro, T cells preferentially differentiated into Th2 cells, while antigen-specific T-cell proliferation and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (interferon gamma, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor and IL-12) were reduced. Oral atorvastatin also prevented or reversed EAE in signal transducer and activator of transcription 6-deficient (STAT6-/-) mice, which cannot generate IL-4-producing Th2 cells. Further, atorvastatin treatment did not induce or expand Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in either wild-type or STAT6-/- mice. In vivo proliferation of T cells, as measured by incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine, was inhibited in atorvastatin-treated wild-type and STAT6-/- mice. These data imply that atorvastatin ameliorates central nervous system autoimmune disease primarily by inhibiting proliferation of proinflammatory encephalitogenic T cells, and not simply through induction of anti-inflammatory Th2 cells. This cytostatic effect may be a relevant mechanism of action when considering use of statins in MS and other inflammatory conditions.
Martin S
MS
Weber
Thomas
T
Prod'homme
Sawsan
S
Youssef
Shannon E
SE
Dunn
Lawrence
L
Steinman
Department of Neurology, University of California, 675 Nelson Rising Lane NS-215A, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. zamvil@ucsf.neuroimmunol.org.
Scott S
SS
Zamvil
D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000172:deficiency; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000502:physiology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000502:physiology*
D016207:Cytokines; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse; D015847:Interleukin-4; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; C106670:adenylyl cyclase 1