Effect of Oral Atorvastatin on CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells, FoxP3 Expression, and Prognosis in Patients With ST-Segment Elevated Myocardial Infarction Before Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to explore the effects of atorvastatin on changes of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), FoxP3 expression in the infarct-related coronary artery, and peripheral venous blood of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. METHODS: We recorded 112 cases of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who were randomly assigned to receive either atorvastatin 80 mg (n = 52) or placebo (n = 60) before primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Blood samples were obtained from the infarct-related coronary artery and peripheral vein during percutaneous coronary intervention. The proportion of CD4+CD25+ Tregs, FoxP3 mRNA expression in blood and concentrations of transforming growth factor-β and interferon-γ in plasma of the samples were measured or detected by flow cytometry, real-time polymerase chain reaction, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. RESULTS: In comparison with the control group, the proportions of CD4+CD25+ Tregs and the mRNA level of FoxP3 and transforming growth factor-β significantly increased; however, interferon-γ decreased with atorvastatin therapy. In the controls, the proportions of CD4+CD25+ Tregs and the mRNA level of FoxP3 and transforming growth factor-β were significantly decreased, but the level of interferon-γ increased more in the infarct-related coronary artery than in the peripheral vein. CONCLUSION: : The inhibition of CD4+CD25+ Tregs in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction could be regulated with atorvastatin given before percutaneous coronary intervention.