Statin effects on regulatory and proinflammatory factors in chronic idiopathic urticaria

Abstract

SummaryImmunological dysfunction has been described to occur in chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), most notably in association with an inflammatory process. Some pharmacological agents as statins -drugs used in hypercholesterolaemia -display a broad effect on the immune response and thus should be tested in vitro in CIU. Our main objectives were to evaluate the effects of statins on the innate and adaptive immune response in CIU.

The effect of statin therapy withdrawal on monocyte subsets

“…However, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on healthy volunteers, high-dose simvastatin did not influence monocyte surface TLR4 density, but diminished its upregulation in response to endotoxemia [32]. Statins were unable to control TLR4 overactivation in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria [33]. In a study of 140 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy with half of patients not receiving statins, immunohistochemically assessed macrophage density of TLR was higher amongst statin na€ ıve subjects [34].…”

Serum concentration of IL‐17, IL‐23 and TNF‐α among patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria: association with disease activity and autologous serum skin test

“…In addition, the study was conducted on a small number of patients (19 CU patients without sensitization against Anisakis simplex). In another study, Azor et al found that levels of IFN‐γ, IL‐5, IL‐10 and IL‐17A induced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by phytohaemaglutinin (PHA) did not differ between healthy control or CIU patients and were decreased significantly by simvastatin.…”

Different Frequencies of Tc17/Tc1 and Th17/Th1 Cells in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

“…Another hypothesis for the cytokine profile found in autoimmune urticaria may be related to the therapeutic strategy; Azor et al [45] showed that simvastin could have anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting proinflammatory Th1/Th17 cytokine secretion.…”