Simvastatin down-regulates the production of Interleukin-8 by neutrophil leukocytes from dyslipidemic patients

BACKGROUND Neutrophil (PMN) leukocytes participate to the initial phases of atherosclerosis through the release of Interleukin 8 (CxCL8; IL-8) that contribute to amplification of inflammation. Aim of the study is to investigate the production of IL-8 by PMN leukocytes from dyslipidemic patients treated with simvastatin. METHODS In 15 dyslipidemic subjects with moderately increased cardiovascular risk, assessed by Framingham Risk Score, blood samples were obtain to investigate PMNs IL-8 production [at baseline and after N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) stimulation] before and after long-term (1-year) simvastatin treatment. RESULTS The resting release of IL-8 was higher in dyslipidemic patients at baseline when compared with control subjects (p < 0.05). One year of treatment was significantly associated with reduced IL-8 production (p < 0.01). Moreover, the fMLP-induced IL-8 production in dyslipidemic untreated patients was higher than that of controls (p < 0.05) and was reduced after simvastatin treatment (p < 0.01). IL-8 release after 1 year of treatment was reduced to levels which were lower than those observed in control subjects both for resting and stimulated cytokine production (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Prolonged treatment with simvastatin is associated with a reduction of IL-8 production, suggesting the possibility of statin to modulate the pro-inflammatory response in PMNs of patients with moderately increased cardiovascular risk.