Effect of low dose atorvastatin versus diet-induced cholesterol lowering on atherosclerotic lesion progression and inflammation in apolipoprotein E*3-Leiden transgenic mice

Objective - To evaluate whether low-dose atorvastatin suppresses atherosclerotic lesion progression and inflammation in apolipoprotein E*3 (apoE*3)-Leiden mice beyond its cholesterol-lowering effect. Methods and Results - ApoE*3-Leiden mice were fed a high-cholesterol (HC) diet until mild atherosclerotic lesions had formed. Subsequently, HC diet...

Evidence for anti-inflammatory activity of statins and PPARα activators in human C-reactive protein transgenic mice in vivo and in cultured human hepatocytes in vitro

Inflammatory processes, aside from cholesterol, play a central role in atherogenesis. Human C-reactive protein (huCRP) signals systemic inflammation and independently predicts future cardiovascular risk. Cholesterol-lowering statins reduce atherosclerosis and plasma huCRP levels. Evidence is sought for a direct anti-inflammatory statin effect in...

Fibrates down-regulate IL-1-stimulated C-reactive protein gene expression in hepatocytes by reducing nuclear p50-NFκB-C/EBP-β complex formation

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major acute-phase protein in humans. Elevated plasma CRP levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. CRP is predominantly expressed in hepatocytes and is induced by interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 under inflammatory situations, such as the acute phase. Fibrates are hypolipidemic drugs that act through the...