Atorvastatin Decreased Circulating RANTES Levels in Impaired Glucose Tolerance Patients with Hypercholesterolemia: An Interventional Study

Two genetic variants in the promoter region of the CCL5 gene are associated with the risk of acute coronary syndrome and with a lower plasma CCL5 concentration

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a multi-factorial condition with a strong inflammatory component, which is immune-mediated by chemokines. The CCL5 is a chemokine that has been suggested to be an important participant in the development of the atherosclerotic plaque. Therefore, in this work, we evaluated whether three polymorphisms located in the promoter region of the CCL5 gene [CCL5 -28 G/C (rs2280788), CCL5-109 G/A (rs1800825), and CCL5-403 G/A (rs2107538)] are significantly associated with the acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and plasma CCL5 levels. The determination of the gene polymorphisms was performed by 5'exonuclease TaqMan assays in 625 patients with ACS and 700 control individuals. Plasma CCL5 levels were evaluated by ELISA. Under co-dominant, dominant, and additive models, the G allele of the -109 G/A polymorphism was associated with a higher risk of ACS (OR = 1.27, pC_Co-dom = 0.041, OR = 1.33, pC_Dom = 0.03, and OR = 1.33, pC_Add = 0.015, respectively). In the same way, under co-dominant and recessive models, the A allele of the -403 G/A polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of ACS (OR = 1.62, pC_Co-dom = 0.042, and OR = 1.63, pC_Res = 0.012, respectively). The CCL5-109 G allele carriers had a lower concentration of the CCL5 than subjects with the A allele. Also, carriers of CCL5-403 A allele showed a lower concentration of the CCL5 than individuals with the G allele. Our data suggest the association of the CCL5-109 G/A and CCL5-403 G/A polymorphisms with the risk of developing ACS and with a lower concentration of CCL5 in our population.

Extracorporeal apheresis therapy for Alzheimer disease-targeting lipids, stress, and inflammation

Current therapeutic approaches to Alzheimer disease (AD) remain disappointing and, hence, there is an urgent need for effective treatments. Here, we provide a perspective review on the emerging role of "metabolic inflammation" and stress as a key factor in the pathogenesis of AD and propose a novel rationale for correction of metabolic inflammation, increase resilience and potentially slow-down or halt the progression of the neurodegenerative process. Based on recent evidence and observations of an early pilot trial, we posit a potential use of extracorporeal apheresis in the prevention and treatment of AD. Apolipoprotein E, lipoprotein(a), oxidized LDL (low density lipoprotein)'s and large LDL particles, as well as other proinflammatory lipids and stress hormones such as cortisol, have been recognized as key factors in amyloid plaque formation and aggravation of AD. Extracorporeal lipoprotein apheresis systems employ well-established, powerful methods to provide an acute, reliable 60-80% reduction in the circulating concentration of these lipid classes and reduce acute cortisol levels. Following a double-membrane extracorporeal apheresis in patients with AD, there was a significant reduction of proinflammatory lipids, circulating cytokines, immune complexes, proinflammatory metals and toxic chaperones in patients with AD. On the basis of the above, we suggest designing clinical trials to assess the promising potential of such "cerebropheresis" treatment in patients with AD and, possibly, other neurodegenerative diseases.

Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein-Induced Atherogenic Response of Human Umbilical Vascular Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) was Protected by Atorvastatin by Regulating miR-26a-5p/Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN)

Background

Atherosclerosis is a chronic and multifactorial disease, and it is the main reason of coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction, and peripheral vascular disease, which leads to the formation of lesions in arterial blood vessels. Our study aimed to explore the protective effect and its underlying mechanism of atorvastatin (ATV) on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced atherosclerosis.

Material/Methods

Human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured and pretreated with ox-LDL to establish an in vitro atherosclerotic cell model. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, TUNEL staining, and Transwell assay were used to detect the cell activity, apoptosis, and migration in HUVECs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot were applied to measure the mRNA and protein expressions of adhesion-related genes in HUVECs.

Results

Pretreated with 100 mg/L ox-LDL resulted in a 57.23% decrease of cell viability and 81.09% increase of apoptotic injury in HUVECs compare to the control. Meanwhile, ox-LDL pretreatment increased the cell migration and the expression of miR-26a-5p in HUVECs. ATV treatment could effectively reverse the cellular damage induced by ox-LDL, decrease the release of adhesion-related molecules, and downregulate the expression of miR-26a-5p by 44.79% in HUVECs. Moreover, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was demonstrated to be the target gene of miR-26a-5p.

Conclusions

Our results highlight that ATV protects against ox-LDL-induced downregulation of cell viability, upregulation of cell apoptosis, migration, as well as the release of adhesion-related molecules in HUVECs through the miR-26a-5p/PTEN axis. This study provides new insights into the underlying mechanism of ATV therapeutic potential in atherosclerosis, and also provides a new strategy for the treatment of atherosclerosis.