title: Interrelated cathepsin S-lowering and LDL subclass profile improvements induced by atorvastatin in the plasma of stable angina patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that, in stable angina patients, atorvastatin therapy lowers the cathepsin S (CTSS) concentrations, as assessed non-invasively according to a plasma analysis. In addition, the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) size and subclasses in the plasma were analysed to establish the association between CTSS and lipoprotein metabolism and determine whether this association is atorvastatin-sensitive.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 43 patients with stable angina received atorvastatin therapy (20 mg/day, 10 weeks). The plasma CTSS mRNA levels, CTSS protein concentrations and CTSS activity, as well as LDL and HDL size and subclasses, were analysed before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atorvastatin treatment did not change the plasma CTSS mRNA levels, although it lowered the plasma CTSS concentrations and activity. An increased plasma CTSS concentration and activity were found to be associated with a more atherogenic LDL subclass profile (a decreased dominant LDL size and increased percentage of small, dense LDL particles). The atorvastatin-induced CTSS-loweringeffect was concomitant with an improvement in the LDL subclass profile, and the changes were found to be interrelated. Concomitant, interrelated changes in the CTSS levels and LDL subclass profiles were found in the LDL phenotype B patients only (a dominant LDL diameter of ≤ 25.5 nm at the start of the study). In this subgroup, lowering of the plasma CTSS mRNA level also correlated with lowering of the proportion of small, dense LDL particles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atorvastatin-induced CTSS-lowering and LDL subclass profile improvements in the plasma of LDL phenotype B patients with stable angina are concomitant and interrelated.
authors.affiliation: Department of laboratory diagnostics, Clinical Centre Banja Luka.
authors.forename: Bosa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mirjanic-Azaric
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vekic
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeljkovic
authors.forename: Zorana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jelic-Ivanovic
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djeric
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Milivojac
authors.forename: Ursa
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pecar Fonovic
authors.forename: Janja
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marc
authors.forename: Janko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kos
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cerne
mesh_terms: D060050:Angina, Stable / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002403:Cathepsins; C028217:cathepsin S