Inhibitors of 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase (Statins) Suppress Proliferation and Motility of Human CD4+ T Lymphocytes in Culture.

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) along with their blood lipid-lowering effect exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity. We studied the effects of long-term (72-h or longer) exposure of human T lymphocytes in culture to atorvastatin and rosuvastatin (5-80 nM) on their functional activity. Treatment with statins inhibited PHA/IL-2-induced proliferation of CD4+ T lymphocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors. This was accompanied by a decrease in the relative content of cells expressing active caspase-3. Addition of mevalonate or fetal bovine serum simultaneously with statins restored proliferative activity of cells. Culturing of CD4+ T lymphocytes with statins in the presence of IL-2 did not significantly affect the expression of chemokine receptors CCR4, CCR5, CXCR3, and CXCR4. Pretreatment with statins suppressed spontaneous and SDF-1-stimulated migration of CD4+ T lymphocytes, but little changed the content of intracellular phosphorylated protein kinases Akt, p38 and p42/44 (ERK1/2). The cellular effects of "lipophilic" atorvastatin were observed at lower concentrations compared to "hydrophilic" rosuvastatin.

Inhibitors of 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme a Reductase (Statins) Suppress Differentiation and Reduce LPS/IFNγ-Induced Cytokine Production in Human Monocyte/Macrophage Culture.

We examined the effects of 72-h exposure to atorvastatin and rosuvastatin in concentrations of 2-10 nM on the cytokine expression in LPS/IFNγ-activated monocyte/macrophages derived from peripheral blood monocytes of healthy donors by culturing in the presence of GM-CSF. Pretreatment with statins was found to inhibit cytokine production in monocytes/macrophages after activation, while the level of cytokine mRNA in cells did not decrease. The number of cells containing active caspase-3 decreased in the culture. Culturing of monocytes/macrophages with statins was accompanied by changes in cell morphology and deceleration of cell growth. Cellular effects of "lipophilic" atorvastastin were observed at lower concentration compared to "hydrophilic" rosuvastatin.

A Low-Molecular-Weight Phenotype of Apolipoprotein(a) as a Factor Provoking Accumulation of Cholesterol by THP-1 Monocyte-Like Cells.

Increased concentration of lipoprotein(a) is a risk factor of coronary heart disease. lipoprotein(a) consists of LDL-like and highly polymorphic apolipoprotein(a). Here we studied the effect of lipoprotein(a)-containing sera with different apolipoprotein(a) phenotypes on lipid accumulation by THP-1 monocyte-like cells. Cholesterol concentration in lysates of THP-1 cells was significantly higher after their incubation with lipoprotein(a)-containing serum samples with low-molecular-weight phenotype of apolipoprotein(a) in comparison with samples with a high-molecular-weight apolipoprotein(a) phenotype irrespective of initial cholesterol level as well as serum concentrations of apoB-100, oxidized LDL, and circulating immune complexes. The presence of the most atherogenic small dense LDL subfractions in examined sera in addition to a low-molecular-weight apolipoprotein(a) phenotype resulted in significant elevation of cholesterol accumulation by THP-1 cells. The data obtained explain greater atherogenicity of lipoprotein(a) with low-molecular-weight apolipoprotein(a) phenotype.

Low Blood Content of IL-10-Producing CD4+ T Cells as a Risk Factor for Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis.

In a 2-year prospective study, prognostic significance of the blood content of IL-10-producing CD4+ T lymphocytes for progression of coronary artery atherosclerosis was assessed. Patients with verified stable angina (n=36) admitted for scheduled coronary angiography and coronary stenting were enrolled. The blood levels of CD4+FoxpP3+ Treg, CD4+IFNγ+ Th1, CD4+IL17+ Th17, CD4+IL10+ cells, sCD25, IL-10, IL-17, C-reactive protein, and lipoprotein (a) were assayed before endovascular interventions. The blood content of CD4+IL10+ T cells below 3.3% was associated with progression of coronary artery atherosclerosis (OR 12.0 (2.3, 61.0), sensitivity 77%, specificity 78%, p=0.003). No differences in other immunological parameters and common atherosclerosis risk factors in the groups were revealed. We hypothesize that the content of CD4+IL10+ T cells can be an important predictive marker for the progression of coronary atherosclerosis.

Lentivirus transduction of bone marrow hemopoietic precursor cells with Lin-c-kit+ phenotype ex vivo using a genetic construct containing green fluorescent protein gene.

We developed a technology of labeling bone marrow precursor cells with the Lin-c-kit+ phenotype in culture by green fluorescent protein gene using a lentivirus vector. The proposed system provides effective transduction of bone marrow precursor cells and high transgene expression level in vitro (27%). The integration of the transgene into the transduced cell genome in vivo was verified by the method of splenic colonies.