Effects of two lipid lowering therapies on immune responses in hyperlipidemic subjects

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) Vol. 98; no. 2; pp. 83 - 87
• Main Authors: Moreira, Flavio Tocci, Ramos, Silvia Cristina, Monteiro, Andrea Moreira, Helfenstein, Tatiana, Gidlund, Magnus, Damasceno, Nagila Raquel Teixeira, Figueiredo Neto, Antonio Martins, Izar, Maria Cristina, Fonseca, Francisco Antonio Helfenstein
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 11.03.2014
• Subjects: Antibodies - blood; Antibodies - metabolism; Azetidines - pharmacology; Azetidines - therapeutic use; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Dyslipidemia; Electronegative low-density lipoprotein; Ezetimibe; Fluorobenzenes - pharmacology; Fluorobenzenes - therapeutic use; HLA-D Antigens - immunology; Humans; Hyperlipidemias - drug therapy; Hyperlipidemias - immunology; Hypolipidemic Agents - pharmacology; Hypolipidemic Agents - therapeutic use; Immune System - drug effects; Oxidized LDL; Pyrimidines - pharmacology; Pyrimidines - therapeutic use; Rosuvastatin Calcium; Statins; Sulfonamides - pharmacology; Sulfonamides - therapeutic use; Electronegative low-density lipoprotein; Oxidized LDL; Statins; Dyslipidemia; Ezetimibe
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2014.01.001

To compare the effects of two of the most effective lipid-lowering therapies with similar LDL-cholesterol reduction capacity on the innate and adaptive immune responses through the evaluation of autoantibodies anti-oxidized LDL (anti-oxLDL Abs) and electronegative LDL [LDL(−)] levels. We performed a prospective, randomized, open label study, with parallel arms and blinded endpoints. One hundred and twelve subjects completed the study protocol and received rosuvastatin 40mg or ezetimibe/simvastatin 10/40mg for 12weeks. Lipids, apolipoproteins, LDL(−), and anti-oxLDL Abs (IgG) were assayed at baseline and end of study. Main clinical and laboratory characteristics were comparable at baseline. Lipid modifications were similar in both treatment arms, however, a significant raise in anti-oxLDL Abs levels was observed in subjects treated with rosuvastatin (p=0.026 vs. baseline), but not in those receiving simvastatin/ezetimibe. (p=0.233 vs. baseline), thus suggesting modulation of adaptive immunity by a potent statin. Titers of LDL(−) were not modified by the treatments. Considering atherosclerosis as an immune disease, this study adds new information, showing that under similar LDL-cholesterol reduction, the choice of lipid-lowering therapy can differently modulate adaptive immune responses.