Association between reduced low density lipoprotein oxidation and inhibition of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 production in statin-treated subjects

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is essential in atherogenesis. Oxidized lipids regulate MCP-1 expression and release from mononuclear cells. In this study we investigated (1) whether statin therapy reduces lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated MCP-1 production in human whole-blood samples and (2) the relationships between in vitro low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and MCP-1 production. Fasting blood samples were obtained from 55 healthy nonsmoking adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia who were participating in a randomized double-blind 8-week trial comparing the effects of statin therapy with those of placebo on cytokine production. Samples were analyzed for resistance to copper-mediated LDL oxidation (lag time in minutes), as well as MCP-1- and interleukin-8 (IL-8)-stimulated production. Statin therapy reduced MCP-1 production (mean ± SD) -161 ± 399 pg/mL/mm ³ white cells) compared with 267 ± 985 pg/mL/mm³ in the placebo group, but changes were not different between active and placebo groups (P = .13). Statin therapy also increased lag times (median [interquartile range]; 20.5 [7.0-51.2] minutes vs -17.0 [-5.3-16.5] minutes; P = .067 for group difference). Inhibition of MCP-1 production correlated with prolongation of lag time (r = .46, P = .0056) in statin-treated subjects. Statin therapy reduced MCP-1 production in the whole blood of human subjects and these changes were correlated with improvement in LDL oxidative resistance.