The role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in the pleiotropic effects of Atorvastatin

Sandhu, Kulwinder Singh

Abstract

The following thesis began by discussing current controversies surrounding EPC identification then studied the effect of atorvastatin on EPC numbers in bench and bed side studies.
Atorvastatin was hypothesised to increase chemokine CXCL-12 its receptor CXCR-4, adhesion molecule e–selectin and EPCs on damaged endothelium. The study found atorvastatin had a significant increase in CXCL-12 concentration (P<0.05) an effect also seen with greater incubation time also had a significant effect on CXCL-12 concentration (P<0.05) and maintained elevated expression of CXCR-4 and E-selectin on denuded intima. The study confirmed the feasibility of performing flow cytometric analysis of whole blood samples at Royal Stoke University hospital and that samples may be analysed up to 12 hours after venesection if stored at 40 C. An inverse trend was found between EPC count and coronary artery calcium score, converse to pre study hypothesis of a linear relationship between EPC count and coronary artery calcification - a marker of coronary artery disease. The thesis also expected to find that a greater number of EPCs in patients admitted with acute coronary syndromes and given the higher dose of 80 mg atorvastatin when compared with patients diagnosed with stable angina given 20mg atorvastatin. However, despite no statistical difference there appeared to be a peak of EPC numbers by 48 hours with return to baseline levels at day 3. Finally, the study found no significant difference in EPC counts over the 28 day study period in patients treated with 80mg atorvastatin.

Citation

Sandhu, K. S. (2023). The role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in the pleiotropic effects of Atorvastatin. (Thesis). Keele University

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jul 19, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 19, 2023
• Award Date: 2023-06