Shuiping Zhao1, Quanzhong Li, Ling Liu, Zhumei Xu, Jiezhi Xiao. 1. Department of Cardiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 86# Renmin Middle Road, Changsha, Hunan 410011, PR China. ZhaoSP@medmail.com.cn
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic low-grade inflammation may contribute to the increased risk of atherosclerosis in essential hypertension. Statins have been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects. We studied whether individuals with essential hypertension have increased interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) secretion in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and whether treatment with simvastatin lowered IL-1beta secretion by PBMCs. METHODS: PBMCs were isolated by gradient centrifugation from 24 individuals with essential hypertension (EH) and 12 normotensive subjects. The IL-1beta concentrations in the supernatant from PBMCs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The patients with EH were then randomized to treatment with valsartan 80 mg/day or matching group who took the same drug valsartan 80 mg/day plus simvastatin 40 mg/day for 1 week. IL-1beta secretion by PBMCs was also measured. RESULTS: Compared with controls, patients with EH had increased IL-1beta [992+/-151 pg/ml, 912+/-102 pg/ml vs. 599+/-93 pg/ml; P<0.05] secretion by PBMCs after stimulated by angiotensin II. Simvastatin treatment had a significant effect of decreasing IL-1beta [668+/-98 vs. 923+/-67 pg/ml; P<0.05] secretion in PBMCs. The reductions were not correlated to changes in plasma lipids. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that EH is associated with increased PBMCs activation and that treatment with simvastatin may partly attenuate this abnormality. Copyright 2004 Elsevier B.V.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Chronic low-grade inflammation may contribute to the increased risk of atherosclerosis in essential hypertension. Statins have been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects. We studied whether individuals with essential hypertension have increased interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) secretion in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and whether treatment with simvastatin lowered IL-1beta secretion by PBMCs. METHODS: PBMCs were isolated by gradient centrifugation from 24 individuals with essential hypertension (EH) and 12 normotensive subjects. The IL-1beta concentrations in the supernatant from PBMCs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The patients with EH were then randomized to treatment with valsartan 80 mg/day or matching group who took the same drug valsartan 80 mg/day plus simvastatin 40 mg/day for 1 week. IL-1beta secretion by PBMCs was also measured. RESULTS: Compared with controls, patients with EH had increased IL-1beta [992+/-151 pg/ml, 912+/-102 pg/ml vs. 599+/-93 pg/ml; P<0.05] secretion by PBMCs after stimulated by angiotensin II. Simvastatin treatment had a significant effect of decreasing IL-1beta [668+/-98 vs. 923+/-67 pg/ml; P<0.05] secretion in PBMCs. The reductions were not correlated to changes in plasma lipids. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that EH is associated with increased PBMCs activation and that treatment with simvastatin may partly attenuate this abnormality. Copyright 2004 Elsevier B.V.