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How Statins work for MS

Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 5:37 am
by Dunmann
Not sure if this has been posted before or not. Nevertheless, here it is.

Statins may inhibit progression of multiple sclerosis

CHAPEL HILL - Scientists from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have established how statins -- cholesterol-lowering drugs -- inhibit inflammation and nerve cell damage caused by multiple sclerosis.

Preliminary research has shown that multiple sclerosis (MS) patients taking statins with their standard drug regimen develop less nerve cell damage over time than MS patients on standard therapy. Understanding the precise mechanisms by which statins fight multiple sclerosis is an important step toward approving the commonly used drugs for MS treatment, said Dr. Silva Markovic-Plese, associate professor of neurology, immunology and microbiology in the UNC School of Medicine.

In tests performed on blood samples from people with relapse-remitting MS, statins shut down several inflammatory processes. The statins inhibited the formation of immune-system cells called lymphocytes and monocytes, which cause inflammation by attacking the body's nerve cells.

"When we compared the effects of statins to well-understood MS therapies such as interferon, an anti-inflammatory, statins were equal if not stronger in some aspects," Markovic-Plese said. The researchers also examined blood samples from healthy people.

The study was published online July 25 in the Journal of Neuroimmunology and will appear in an upcoming print issue. The Myelin Project, a private research organization, funded part of the research.

Inflammation is the driving force behind MS, a disease in which immune cells attack the central nervous system at multiple sites. The attacks cause inflammation that damages the protective coating that insulates nerves and helps transmit nerve signals. The damage worsens as MS progresses, and patients lose the capability to control neurological functions such as vision, speech, and walking.

In the study, statins prevented inflammation by suppressing several genes that produce cytokines, secreted proteins that send messages regulating inflammation and the immune system. Statins also prevented the immune system from creating cells that damage nerve tissue.

"This study gives us a better understanding of what will happen when MS patients take statins," Markovic-Plese said. "Now we have some markers to follow in patients who take this medication, which will help us detect patients who respond to treatment."

The researchers predict that with further testing, statins may be used to enhance the current treatments for MS, which inhibit disease progression but don't completely stop it. Statins are already taken by millions of people to control cholesterol.

Markovic-Plese is leading a clinical trial at UNC comparing the standard therapy for MS (interferon beta-1a) combined with statin therapy or a placebo. The trial includes 30 patients and should be finished in one year.

"At the end of the trial we'll see how much benefit statins provide in addition to standard therapy," she said. The researchers will measure several cell markers identified in the current study.

Co-authors include Dr. Jianping Jin, Dr. Monica Montes, Danuta Sujkowski, Dr. Yunan Tang and Jennifer Smrtka, all of the UNC; Dr. Timothy Vollmer of the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz.; Dr. Shailendra Giri and Dr. Inderjit Singh of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston; and Xueyan Peng, of Yale University.

Note: Markovic-Plese can be reached at (919) 966-3701 or markovic@neurology.unc.edu

School of Medicine contact: Leslie Lang, (919) 843-9687, llang@med.unc.edu.
News Services contact: Becky Oskin, (919) 962-8596, becky_oskin@unc.edu.

Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:15 am
by bromley
Thanks Dunmann.

Statins, minocycline and hormones such as testosterone frustrate me as they keep being researched, but there is never a definitive answer i.e. MS sufferers should take them (or not). Minocycline is now in trials with different CRABs and I fear that statins might go the same way. I'd hate to have to wait for another three years to see the results of a Rebif and statin trial or whatever.

Ian

Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 8:42 am
by Kasuku
Another unknown aspect of statin treatment for MS is the dose. I believe the dose used in current trials is 80 mg. This is a very high dose, with potential side effects. It would be interesting to know if it works at lower doses. Any of these papers discussed the dose/effect?

K

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:56 am
by CureOrBust
although its not scientific, but i take 60mg lipitor, broken up in two to three doses in a day. I am very sure, that i notice a change (less tingling in my feet) an hour or so after taking a 20mg dose of lipitor. There are others that are on less than 80mg as well. Again, not scientific, but I think lower doses have some effect.

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:11 am
by JFH
Dunnman

Would you post the URL to the article please?

ta