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High Dose Atorvastatin Decreases Cellular Markers of Immune Activation Without Affecting HIV-1 RNA Levels: Results of a Double-blind Randomized Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

High Dose Atorvastatin Decreases Cellular Markers of Immune Activation Without Affecting HIV-1 RNA Levels: Results of a Double-blind Randomized Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial

Anuradha Ganesan, Nancy Crum-Cianflone, Jeanette Higgins, Jing Qin, Catherine Rehm, Julia Metcalf, Carolyn Brandt, Jean Vita, Catherine F. Decker, Peter Sklar, …
The Journal of infectious diseases, v 203(6), pp 756-764
15 Mar 2011
PMID: 21325137
url
https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiq115View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze) Open

Abstract

Major and Brief Reports
(See the editorial commentary by Carr, on pages 751–2 .) Background . 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) exhibit antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in vitro and may modulate the immune response to HIV infection. Studies evaluating the antiviral activity of statins have yielded conflicting results. Methods . We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial to investigate the effect of atorvastatin on HIV-1 RNA (primary objective) and cellular markers of immune activation (secondary objective). HIV-infected individuals not receiving antiretroviral therapy were randomized to receive either 8 weeks of atorvastatin (80 mg) or placebo daily. After a 4–6 week washout phase, participants switched treatment assignments. The study had 80% power to detect a 0.3 log 10 decrease in HIV-1 RNA level. Expression of CD38 and HLA-DR on CD4 + and CD8 + T cells was used to measure immune activation. Results . Of 24 randomized participants, 22 completed the study. Although HIV-1 RNA level was unaffected by the intervention (–0.13 log 10 copies/mL; P = .85), atorvastatin use resulted in reductions in circulating proportions of CD4 + HLA-DR + (–2.5%; P = .02), CD8 + HLA-DR + (–5%; P = .006), and CD8 + HLA-DR + CD38 + T cells (–3%; P = .03). Reductions in immune activation did not correlate with declines in serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Conclusions . Short-term use of atorvastatin was associated with modest but statistically significant reductions in the proportion of activated T lymphocytes.

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Collaboration types
Industry collaboration
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Immunology
Infectious Diseases
Microbiology
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