The effects of atorvastatin on blood Т-cell frequencies in patients with stable angina

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood frequencies of lymphocyte and monocyte subpopulations in patients with stable coronary heart disease receiving atorvastatin 20 mg (>6 months) or non-receiving statins; and the effect of one week high-intensive treatment with atorvastatin 80 mg on these parameters and monocyte chemokine receptor expression. Materials and Methods: 42 patients with stable angina were enrolled, 29 patients had been receiving atorvastatin 20 mgfor at least 6 months, and 13 patients hadn't received statins. Blood frequencies of CD3⁺-cells, including CD4⁺- and CD8⁺- cells, CD4⁺CD25highCD127low regulatory T-cells (T-reg), CD19⁺-B-lymphocytes, CD3-CD(16+56)⁺-NK-lymphocytes, CD14⁺+CD16- and CD14⁺CD16⁺ -monocytes were estimated via flow cytometry. In 10 patients the dynamics of lymphocyte and monocyte subpopulations in blood as well as the expression of chemokine receptors (CCR2, CCR5, CX3CR1 ) were analysed after 1 week of atorvastatin 80 mg per day. Results: Blood frequencies of T-reg were elevated in patients receiving atorvastatin 20 mg. No differences in circulating levels of other cell subpopulations were observed. The increase of atorvastatin from 20 to 80 mg per day lead to a further significant elevation of T-reg levels and to a decrease of the expression of CCR5 receptors by monocytes and lymphocytes on the 7th day of treatment. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the immunomodulating properties of atorvastatin, with the dose-dependent elevation of circulating T-reg level, and the decline of CCR5 chemokine receptor expression by monocytes and lymphocytes after a short period of high-intensive treatment.