FOS expression in blood as a LDL-independent marker of statin treatment

• Published in: Atherosclerosis Vol. 212; no. 2; pp. 567 - 570
• Main Authors: Kang, Ju-Gyeong, Sung, Ho Joong, Jawed, Sarah I, Brenneman, Cynthia L, Rao, Yesoda N, Sher, Salman, Facio, Flavia M, Biesecker, Leslie G, Quyyumi, Arshed A, Sachdev, Vandana, Hwang, Paul M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.10.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Biomarker; Biomarkers - metabolism; Blood; Blood and lymphatic vessels; C-Reactive Protein - biosynthesis; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Cholesterol - chemistry; Cholesterol, LDL - metabolism; Diseases of the lymphatic vessels; Female; FOS; Gene expression; Genes, fos; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Inflammation; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - cytology; Macrophage; Macrophages - cytology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Monocyte; Pleiotropic; Prospective Studies; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos - blood; Statin; coronary artery disease; high sensitivity C-reactive protein; Biomarker; Monocyte; CAD; Pleiotropic; Inflammation; cardiovascular diseases; FOS; Gene expression; Finkel–Biskis–Jinkins osteosarcoma gene; Blood; HMG CoA reductase; HMG CoA reductase inhibitor; CVD; statin; Atherosclerosis; hsCRP; 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase; Macrophage; Cardiovascular disease; Statin derivative; Statin; Vascular disease; Lipoprotein LDL; Treatment; Antilipemic agent
• ISSN: 0021-9150; 1879-1484
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2010.06.023

Abstract Objectives The expression of FOS , a gene critical for monocyte and macrophage function, can be inhibited by statins through the disruption of a cholesterol-independent signaling pathway. In this pilot study, we hypothesized that blood FOS mRNA levels will be sensitive to statin treatment independent of LDL cholesterol levels. Methods Three cohorts at increased risk of or with cardiovascular disease (CVD) were studied. Blood FOS mRNA levels were measured before and after statin treatment or in patients under stable treatment. Results Statin treatment for three months significantly reduced blood FOS mRNA and LDL cholesterol levels. However, in subjects with similar LDL levels achieved by different doses of long term statin treatment, there was an inverse relationship between statin dose and FOS expression. Conclusions FOS mRNA levels appear to be a sensitive marker of statin treatment that is dissociated from cholesterol levels.