Abstract
Suppression of cholesterol synthesis by 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, such as lovastatin, has been shown to inhibit mitogen stimulated proliferation of natural killer (NK) cells and other lymphocytesin vitro. This effect is only partially overcome by provision of exogenous free or lipoprotein cholesterol but is reversed by mevalonate, suggesting that proliferating lymphocytes have a specific requirement for a nonsterol isoprenoid product of mevalonate. The effect of lovastatin (20 mg bid) on a range of immune function parameters was determined in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blindex vivo study in 52 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia. No significant differences (P<0.05) were found between lovastatin and placebo groups for basal NK or interleukin-2 (IL-2)-induced cell-mediated cytotoxicity, PHA-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, or relative numbers of T lymphocytes (CD3+), B lymphocytes (CD19+), total NK cells (CD3−, CD16+, CD56+) and CD57+ NK cells or in immunoglobulin levels after 4 or 8 weeks of treatment. In contrast to previousin vitro data, no statistically or clinically significant changes were observed in any parameter of lymphocyte function in patients treated with lovastatin.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cutts JL, Scallen TJ, Watson J, Bankhurst AD: Role of mevalonic acid in the regulation of natural killer cell cytotoxicity. J Cell Physiol 139:550–557, 1989
Cuthbert JA, Lipsky PE: Inhibition by 6-fluoromevalonate demonstrates that mevalonate or one of the mevalonate phosphates is necessary for lymphocyte proliferation. J Biol Chem 265:18568–18575, 1990
Owens D, Collins P, Johnson A, Tomkin G: Cellular cholesterol metabolism in mitogen stimulated lymphocytes—requirement forde novo synthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta 1051:138–143, 1990
Chakrabarti R, Engleman EG: Interrelationships between mevalonate metabolism and the mitogenic signalling pathway in T lymphocyte proliferation. J Biol Chem 266:12216–12222, 1991
Oliver MF: Might treatment of hypercholesterolemia increase non-cardiac mortality? Lancet 337:1529–1531, 1991
Wedner HJ, Parker CW: Lymphocyte activation. Prog Allergy 20:195–300, 1976
Jurgens G, Xu QB, Huber LA, Bock G, Howanietz H, Wick G, Traill KN: Promotion of lymphocyte growth by high density lipoproteins (HDL). Physiological significance of the HDL binding site. J Biol Chem 264:8549–8556, 1989
Cuthbert JA, Lipsky PE: Modulation of human lymphocyte responses by LDL: Enhancement but not immunosuppression is mediated by LDL receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci 81:4539–4543, 1984
Cuthbert JA, East CA, Bilheimer DW, Lipsky PE: Detection of familial hypercholesterolemia by assaying functional low density lipoprotein receptors on lymphocytes. N Engl J Med 314:879–883, 1986
Pross HF, Jondol M: Cytotoxic lymphocytes from natural donors. A functional marker of human non T-cell lymphocytes. Clin Exp Immunol 21:226–235, 1975
Trinchieri G: Biology of natural killer cells. Adv Immunol 47:187–376, 1989
Pross H, Baines M: Alterations in natural killer cell activity in tumor-bearing hosts.In Lotzova E, Herbernu R (eds), Immunobiology of Natural Killer Cells. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press, 1986, pp 57–78
Trinchieri G, Santoli D: Enhancement of human natural killer cell activity by interferon. J Immunol 120:1845–1850, 1978
Grimm EA, Mazumder A, Zhang HZ, Rosenberg SA: Lymphokine-activated killer cell phenomenon. Lysis of natural killer cell resistant fresh solid tumor cells by interleukin 2-activated autologous human peripheral lymphocytes. J Exp Med 155:1823–1841, 1982
Damle NK, Doyle LV, Bradley EC: Interleukin 2-activated human killer cells are derived from phenotypically heterogeneous precursors. J Immunol 137:2814–2822, 1986
Cutts JL, Bankhurst AD: Reversal of lovastatin mediated inhibition of natural killer cell cytotoxicity by interleukin 2. J Cell Physiol 145:244–252, 1990
Cutts JL, Bankhurst AD: Suppression of lymphoid cell functionin vitro by inhibition of HMG CoA reductase by lovastatin. Int J Immunopharmacol 11:863–869, 1989
Lipid Research Clinics Program: Manual of Laboratory Operations. Bethesda, MD, US Government Printing Office, DHEW Publication No. (NIH) 756282, 1984, pp 1–81
Friedwald WT, Levy RI, Frederickson DS: Estimation of the concentration of low density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma without use of preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin Chem 18:499–502, 1972
Pross HF, Baines MG, Rubin P, Shragge P, Patterson M: Spontaneous human lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against human target cells. IX. Quantification of natural killer cell activity. J Clin Immunol 1:51–63, 1981
Pross HF, Maroun JA: The standardization of NK cell assays for use in studies of biological response modifiers. J Immunol Methods 68:235–249, 1984
Paul WE: Fundamental Immunology, 2nd ed. New York, Raven Press, 1989
SAS Institute Inc.: SAS/STAT User's Release Guide, ed 6.03. Cary, NC, SAS Institute Inc., 1988
Pappu AS, Illingworth DR: Contrasting effects of lovastatin and cholestyramine on low density lipoprotein cholesterol and 24 hour mevalonate excretion in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. J Lab Clin Med 114:554–562, 1989
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McPherson, R., Tsoukas, C., Baines, M.G. et al. Effects of lovastatin on natural killer cell function and other immunological parameters in man. J Clin Immunol 13, 439–444 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00920019
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00920019