TY - JOUR
T1 - Raised serum levels of soluble CD40 ligand in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia: Downregulatory effect of statin therapy
AU - Semb, Anne G.
AU - van Wissen, Sanne
AU - Ueland, Thor
AU - Smilde, Tineke
AU - Waehre, Torgun
AU - Tripp, Mieke D.
AU - Frøland, Stig S.
AU - Kastelein, John J. P.
AU - Gullestad, Lars
AU - Pedersen, Terje R.
AU - Aukrust, Pål
AU - Stalenhoef, Anton F. H.
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - Objectives In the present study, we investigated the effects of statins on serum levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Background Atherosclerotic disease seems to involve inflammatory and immunologic mechanisms, and sCD40L has recently been identified as one of the key players in the atherosclerotic process. HMG-Co A reductase inhibitors, statins, have been recognized as immunomodulators and reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, but the effects of statins on sCD40L has not been clarified. Methods In a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial, as part of the Atorvastatin versus Simvastatin on Atherosclerosis Progression (ASAP) trial, 110 patients with FH were given atorvastatin 80 mg/daily (n=57) or simvastatin 40 mg/daily (n=53) for two years. Results Our main findings were: 1) at baseline patients with FH had significantly higher (approximately 27-fold) serum levels of sCD40L than healthy controls; 2) statin therapy markedly decreased serum levels of sCD40L (approximately 40% reduction); 3) this decrease in sCD40L was found during both "aggressive" (i.e., atorvastatin) and "conventional" (i.e., simvastatin) statin therapy and was not correlated with the degree of reduction in cholesterol levels. Conclusions Our findings may suggest enhanced CD40L-CD40 interaction in FH and that this inflammatory response may be downregulated by statins
AB - Objectives In the present study, we investigated the effects of statins on serum levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Background Atherosclerotic disease seems to involve inflammatory and immunologic mechanisms, and sCD40L has recently been identified as one of the key players in the atherosclerotic process. HMG-Co A reductase inhibitors, statins, have been recognized as immunomodulators and reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, but the effects of statins on sCD40L has not been clarified. Methods In a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial, as part of the Atorvastatin versus Simvastatin on Atherosclerosis Progression (ASAP) trial, 110 patients with FH were given atorvastatin 80 mg/daily (n=57) or simvastatin 40 mg/daily (n=53) for two years. Results Our main findings were: 1) at baseline patients with FH had significantly higher (approximately 27-fold) serum levels of sCD40L than healthy controls; 2) statin therapy markedly decreased serum levels of sCD40L (approximately 40% reduction); 3) this decrease in sCD40L was found during both "aggressive" (i.e., atorvastatin) and "conventional" (i.e., simvastatin) statin therapy and was not correlated with the degree of reduction in cholesterol levels. Conclusions Our findings may suggest enhanced CD40L-CD40 interaction in FH and that this inflammatory response may be downregulated by statins
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(02)02718-3
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(02)02718-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 12535822
SN - 0735-1097
VL - 41
SP - 275
EP - 279
JO - Journal of the American College of Cardiology
JF - Journal of the American College of Cardiology
IS - 2
ER -