Reduction of soluble P-selectin by statins is inversely correlated with the progression of coronary artery disease

Background Cell adhesion molecules (CAM) play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by mediating the binding of leukocytes to the endothelium. Soluble CAM isoforms are known to be elevated in the sera of patients suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods We measured the concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, P-selectin, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the blood of 47 CAD patients before and 6 months after starting statin therapy and in 16 untreated CAD patients. The progression of CAD was monitored by calculating the coronary calcium score using electron beam computed tomography. Results Soluble P-selectin (92 ± 11 ng/ml vs. 59 ± 4 ng/ml, p < 0.0001) and hs-CRP (0.92 ± 0.14 mg/dl vs. 0.42 ± 0.11 mg/dl, p < 0.001) decreased significantly in the statin-treated group compared to baseline levels. None of the other proteins studied showed significant changes. In contrast to hs-CRP, the reduction of soluble P-selectin concentrations correlated directly with the lowering of total cholesterol (r2 = 0.236, p < 0.005) and inversely with the progression of CAD (r2 = 0.393, p < 0.0001). Conclusions Our results suggest P-selectin as an additional marker for the beneficial action of statins in patients with CAD.