Endothelial Protection, AT ₁ Blockade and Cholesterol-Dependent Oxidative Stress

BACKGROUND: Statins and angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor blockers reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. In the Endothelial Protection, AT1 blockade and Cholesterol-Dependent Oxidative Stress (EPAS) trial, impact of independent or combined statin and AT1 receptor blocker therapy on endothelial expression of anti-atherosclerotic and proatherosclerotic genes and endothelial function in arteries of patients with coronary artery disease were tested. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty patients with stable coronary artery disease undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery were randomized 4 weeks before surgery to: (A) control without inhibition of renin-angiotensin system or statin; (B) statin (pravastatin 40 mg/d); (C) AT1 blockade (irbesartan 150 mg/d); or (D) combination of statin and AT1 blocker in same dosages. Primary end point was a priori therapy-dependent regulation of an anti-atherosclerotic endothelial expression quotient Q including mRNA expression (in arbitrary units measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction) of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and C-type natriuretic peptide, divided by expression of oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor LOX-1 and NAD(P)H oxidase subunit gp91phox in left internal mammary arteries biopsies obtained by CABG surgery; 49 patients completed the study. Statin therapy increased lnQ from 3.2+/-0.4 to 4.4+/-0.4 significantly versus control. AT(1) blockade showed a trend to increase lnQ to 4.2+/-0.5. Combination of statin and AT1 blocker further increased lnQ to 5.1+/-0.6, but a putative interaction of both therapies in lnQ was not significant. Furthermore, preoperative therapy with statin, AT1 blocker and their combination improved endothelial function in internal mammary artery rings. CONCLUSIONS: Statin and AT1 blocker therapy independently and in combination improve an anti-atherosclerotic endothelial expression quotient and endothelial function.