Clinical and experimental immunology
-
Clin. Exp. Immunol. · Apr 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialShort-term simvastatin treatment has no effect on plasma cytokine response in a human in vivo model of low-grade inflammation.
Statins reduce plasma cholesterol, but clinical trials and in vitro studies indicate that they might also possess anti-inflammatory properties. The effect of simvastatin on circulating cytokines and leucocytes was evaluated in a human in vivo model of low-grade inflammation. Thirty young healthy male participants received an injection of the bacterial cell wall product endotoxin (0.06 ng/kg) to induce systemic inflammation. ⋯ Plasma cytokines as well as total leucocyte counts increased in all participants upon endotoxin challenge but were not affected by simvastatin treatment. Tolerance to endotoxin was observed in both groups after 14 days. Short-term treatment with simvastatin (20 mg/day) did not influence circulating cytokine levels during endotoxaemia in this human in vivo study.