Atorvastatin reduces platelet-oxidized-LDL receptor expression in hypercholesterolaemic patients

Background Oxidized‐LDL (ox‐LDL) are proatherogenic and platelet‐activating molecules. Atorvastatin reduces platelet activity before cholesterol‐lowering action. CD36 and lectin‐like oxidized‐LDL receptor‐1 (LOX‐1) are specific ox‐LDL receptors expressed also in platelets. This study was planned to address whether the possible rapid effect of atorvastatin on platelets could be related to modulation of ox‐LDL receptors. Materials and methods Forty‐eight hypercholesterolaemic subjects requiring statin treatment (atorvastatin 20 mg day−1) after an ineffective diet regimen were evaluated for complete lipid‐profile (chromogenic); P‐selectin (P‐sel), CD36 and LOX‐1 expression (cytofluorimetric detection); circulating and platelet‐associated ox‐LDL (ox‐ and Pox‐LDL, ELISA); and intracellular citrullin recovery (iCit, HPLC) at baseline and 3, 6 and 9 days after inclusion in the study. Moreover, we studied 48 normal controls matched for sex and age. Results Platelet activity expressed by P‐sel (in resting and thrombin‐activated cells), CD36 and LOX‐1 were increased in hypercholesterolaemic subjects (all P