The purpose of this research study is to: Improve the effectiveness of vaccinations by identifying the effect of cholesterol medication, statins, on immune responses.
Due to the anti-inflammatory action of statins, it was proposed that statin treatment would decrease the efficacy of vaccination. This response has yet to be explored following a primary vaccination such as pneumococcal pneumonia. In this study, healthy volunteers will be divided into 2 arms receiving treatment for 28 days: 40 mg atorvastatin or placebo. Antibody titer for 23 serotypes, complete blood count (CBC), high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hsCRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lipids, cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, interleukins, etc.) and key membrane receptors (toll-like receptors, etc.) will be measured for baseline before statin or placebo treatment. On day 7 of treatment, pre-vaccination measures of the above parameters will be taken and an immune response will be induced in all groups using Pneumovax 23 at Day 7. On days 8, 14, 21, and 28 post-vaccination measures will be compared to baseline and between groups.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
33
10-person arm receiving treatment for 28 days: 40 mg atorvastatin, taken orally, once daily, for 28 days.
Pneumovax 23 injected once, intramuscularly at Day 7.
10-person arm receiving treatment for 28 days: Placebo (lactose pill), taken orally, once daily for 28 days.
University of Florida Clinical Translational Research Building
Gainesville, Florida, United States
Determine the effect of atorvastatin treatment on pneumococcal antigen specific antibody production.
The 24 subjects will be randomized into 2 groups of 12 individuals (6 per gender) and will be assigned to receive either atorvastatin treatment (40mg/day) or placebo (lactose pill) control. Subjects will be asked to fast after midnight prior to any morning blood draws. On day 1 of treatment, blood will be drawn for a baseline. Treatment with either atorvastatin or placebo will begin on day one and will continue until day 28. Subjects will be instructed to take the study medication once a day at the same time each day. On day seven of treatment, subjects will be immunized with Pneumovax 23, administered intramuscularly into the arm. Blood will be drawn at several time points following Pneumovax 23 administration. Measurements on blood will be made to determine the effect of statins on immune factor gene expression, serum protein levels, as well as at the cellular level.
Time frame: approximately 49 days
Determine the effect of atorvastatin treatment on immunogenic cytokine levels following pneumococcal vaccination.
The 24 subjects will be randomized into 2 groups of 12 individuals (6 per gender) and will be assigned to receive either atorvastatin treatment (40mg/day) or placebo (lactose pill) control. Subjects will be asked to fast after midnight prior to any morning blood draws. On day 1 of treatment, blood will be drawn for a baseline. Treatment with either atorvastatin or placebo will begin on day one and will continue until day 28. Subjects will be instructed to take the study medication once a day at the same time each day. On day seven of treatment, subjects will be immunized with Pneumovax 23, administered intramuscularly into the arm. Blood will be drawn at several time points following Pneumovax 23 administration. Measurements on blood will be made to determine the effect of statins on immune factor gene expression, serum protein levels, as well as at the cellular level.
Time frame: approximately 49 days
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