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Short-term treatment with atorvastatin reduces platelet CD40 ligand and thrombin generation in hypercholesterolemic

Valerio Sanguigni1, Pasquale Pignatelli, Luisa Lenti

  • 1Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.

Circulation
|February 3, 2005
PubMed

Insights

In hypercholesterolemia, elevated soluble CD40L (sCD40L) and platelet CD40L are linked to increased thrombin generation. Atorvastatin treatment reduced these markers, indicating a direct antithrombotic effect independent of cholesterol reduction.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Hematology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Soluble CD40L (sCD40L), a marker of platelet activation, is elevated in hypercholesterolemia.
  • Platelet CD40L and plasma sCD40L levels reflect in vivo platelet activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between sCD40L and platelet CD40L in hypercholesterolemic patients.
  • To assess the effects of short-term atorvastatin treatment on these markers.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated collagen-induced platelet CD40L, plasma sCD40L, and prothrombin fragment F1+2 in 30 hypercholesterolemic patients and 20 controls.
  • Patients received either diet or atorvastatin (10 mg/d) for 3 days, with measurements at baseline and post-treatment.

Main Results:

  • Hypercholesterolemic patients exhibited higher platelet CD40L, sCD40L, and F1+2 compared to controls.
  • Platelet CD40L correlated significantly with sCD40L, which in turn correlated with F1+2.
  • Atorvastatin treatment significantly decreased platelet CD40L, sCD40L, and F1+2, while diet alone had no effect.

Conclusions:

  • Platelet CD40L overexpression in hypercholesterolemia contributes to elevated sCD40L and thrombin generation.
  • Atorvastatin demonstrates a direct antithrombotic effect by inhibiting platelet CD40L and subsequent thrombin generation, irrespective of its lipid-lowering properties.
Abstract

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