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Statins and Bempedoic Acid: Different Actions of Cholesterol Inhibitors on Macrophage Activation.

ABSTRACT: Statins represent the most prescribed class of drugs for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Effects that go beyond lipid-lowering actions have been suggested to contribute to their beneficial pharmacological properties. Whether and how statins act on macrophages has been a matter of debate. In the present study, we aimed at characterizing the impact of statins on macrophage polarization and comparing these to the effects of bempedoic acid, a recently registered drug for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, which has been suggested to have a similar beneficial profile but fewer side effects. Treatment of primary murine macrophages with two different statins, i.e., simvastatin and cerivastatin, impaired phagocytotic activity and, concurrently, enhanced pro-inflammatory responses upon short-term lipopolysaccharide challenge, as characterized by an induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL) 1β, and IL6. In contrast, no differences were observed under long-term inflammatory (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2) conditions, and neither inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression nor nitric oxide production was altered. Statin treatment led to extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) activation, and the pro-inflammatory statin effects were abolished by ERK inhibition. Bempedoic acid only had a negligible impact on macrophage responses when compared with statins. Taken together, our data point toward an immunomodulatory effect of statins on macrophage polarization, which is absent upon bempedoic acid treatment.

SUBMITTER: Linnenberger R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8623589 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:ObjectiveStatins are sometimes associated with worsened glycemic control. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may require non-statin therapies to achieve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering goals. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of bempedoic acid 180 mg plus ezetimibe 10 mg fixed-dose combination (BA + EZE FDC) in patients with T2DM and hypercholesterolemia who were not receiving background statins or other lipid-lowering therapy.MethodsPatients with T2DM and elevated LDL-C levels were enrolled into this phase 2, double-blind study (NCT03531905). Patients received placebo during a 5-week washout period where background lipid-lowering therapies (including statins) were discontinued. Eligible patients were then randomized 1:1:1 to receive either BA + EZE FDC, ezetimibe 10 mg, or placebo once daily for 12 weeks. Assessments included the percent change from baseline to week 12 in LDL-C, other lipid parameters, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP); and the monitoring of safety and tolerability.ResultsAmong 179 randomized patients, baseline characteristics following the washout period were similar across treatment groups, with mean LDL-C levels of 142.6 mg/dL and mean glycated hemoglobin of 8.0%. At week 12, BA + EZE FDC therapy lowered mean LDL-C levels by 38.8%, significantly more than ezetimibe alone (19.2%; difference, 19.5% [95% confidence interval (CI), 13.4%-25.7%]; p < 0.001) or placebo (increase of 0.9%; difference, 39.6% [95% CI, 33.4%-45.8%]; p < 0.001). BA + EZE FDC significantly reduced hsCRP levels from baseline vs ezetimibe (29.2%; p = 0.005) and vs placebo (36.7%; p < 0.001). Incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was low in all treatment groups, with no indication of worsened glycemic control.ConclusionIn patients with T2DM and hypercholesterolemia who were not receiving statins or other lipid-lowering drugs, BA + EZE FDC significantly lowered LDL-C levels and was generally well tolerated.

Project description:ImportanceAdditional treatment options are needed for patients who do not achieve sufficient reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level with available lipid-lowering therapies.ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of bempedoic acid vs placebo in patients at high cardiovascular risk receiving maximally tolerated lipid-lowering therapy.Design, setting, and participantsPhase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted at 91 clinical sites in North America and Europe from November 2016 to September 2018, with a final date of follow-up of September 22, 2018. A total of 779 patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, or both met randomization criteria, which included LDL-C level 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L) or greater while receiving maximally tolerated lipid-lowering therapy.InterventionsPatients were randomized 2:1 to treatment with bempedoic acid (180 mg) (n = 522) or placebo (n = 257) once daily for 52 weeks.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary end point was percent change from baseline in LDL-C level at week 12. Secondary measures included changes in levels of lipids, lipoproteins, and biomarkers.ResultsAmong 779 randomized patients (mean age, 64.3 years; 283 women [36.3%]), 740 (95.0%) completed the trial. At baseline, mean LDL-C level was 120.4 (SD, 37.9) mg/dL. Bempedoic acid lowered LDL-C levels significantly more than placebo at week 12 (-15.1% vs 2.4%, respectively; difference, -17.4% [95% CI, -21.0% to -13.9%]; P < .001). Significant reductions with bempedoic acid vs placebo were observed at week 12 for non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-10.8% vs 2.3%; difference, -13.0% [95% CI, -16.3% to -9.8%]; P < .001), total cholesterol (-9.9% vs 1.3%; difference, -11.2% [95% CI, -13.6% to -8.8%]; P < .001), apolipoprotein B (-9.3% vs 3.7%; difference, -13.0% [95% CI, -16.1% to -9.9%]; P < .001), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (median, -18.7% vs -9.4%; difference, -8.7% [asymptotic confidence limits, -17.2% to -0.4%]; P = .04). Common adverse events included nasopharyngitis (5.2% vs 5.1% with bempedoic acid and placebo, respectively), urinary tract infection (5.0% vs 1.9%), and hyperuricemia (4.2% vs 1.9%).Conclusions and relevanceAmong patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease receiving maximally tolerated statins, the addition of bempedoic acid compared with placebo resulted in a significant lowering of LDL-C level over 12 weeks. Further research is needed to assess the durability and clinical effect as well as long-term safety.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02991118.

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Statins and Bempedoic Acid: Different Actions of Cholesterol Inhibitors on Macrophage Activation.

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