Rosuvastatin therapy does not affect serum MMP-13 or TIMP-1 levels in hypercholesterolemic patients

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Biochemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade collagen in atherosclerotic plaques, reducing stability.
• Statins reduce expression of MMPs -1, -2, -3, and -9 by attenuating inflammation.
• The effect of statins on MMP-13, crucial for collagen degradation initiation, remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively examine the effect of rosuvastatin therapy on serum levels of MMP-13 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1).
• To assess changes in MMP-13 and TIMP-1 in hypercholesterolemic patients receiving short-term, high-dose statin treatment.

Main Methods:

• 14 hypercholesterolemic patients at low cardiovascular risk received 20 mg/d rosuvastatin for 4 weeks.
• Serum levels of MMP-13, TIMP-1, and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were measured at baseline and post-therapy.
• Statistical analysis compared pre- and post-treatment levels.

Main Results:

• Rosuvastatin significantly decreased LDL cholesterol levels (152 ± 21 to 73 ± 45 mg/dL; P < 0.001).
• Serum levels of MMP-13 showed no significant change (0.295 ± 0.06 to 0.323 ± 0.11 ng/mL; P = 0.12).
• Serum levels of TIMP-1 also remained unchanged (400.8 ± 43.4 to 395.3 ± 47.5 ng/mL; P = 0.26).

Conclusions:

• Short-term, high-dose rosuvastatin therapy does not affect MMP-13 or TIMP-1 levels in hypercholesterolemic patients.
• Despite lowering LDL cholesterol, statins may not influence MMP-13 mediated collagen degradation in the short term.
• Further investigation is warranted to explore long-term effects and the role of MMP-13 in statin-mediated plaque stabilization.