Statins reduce the burden of ambient particulate matter and inflammatory cells within the lung tissues of smokers with and without COPD

Previous studies from our laboratories have shown retention of particulate matter (PM) in lung tissues of subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with increased retention in more severe COPD, potentially contributing to the persistent lung inflammation and remodelling of lung tissue in COPD [1]. Epidemiological studies have shown that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) reduce morbidity and mortality in subjects with COPD [2], possibly via their well-known pleiotropic anti-inflammatory properties [3, 4]. In an animal model we have shown that statins reduce lung inflammation induced by ambient PM exposure in part by reducing the retention of PM in lung tissues by promoting their removal via the lymphatic system to regional lymph nodes [5, 6]. We postulated that statins reduce the burden of PM retention in the lung tissues of subjects with COPD, and thereby reduce downstream lung inflammatory responses.