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Table 3 The effect of simvastatin on sputum cell count and cytokines

From: Simvastatin up-regulates adenosine deaminase and suppresses osteopontin expression in COPD patients through an IL-13-dependent mechanism

Sputum cells

Placebo

(n = 21)

Simvastatin

(n = 21)

P value

Treatment difference, simvastatin minus placebo

(95 % CI)

Effects by order

P value

Δ sputum ADA mRNA (fold change) (n = 13)

0.3 ± 1.4

2.8 ± 3.1

0.001

2.8 (1.3 to 4.2)

0.7

Δ sputum ADA (U/L)

−1.5 ± 9.4

22.0 ± 18.4

<0.001

23.3 (15.0 to 31.6)

0.19

Δ sputum osteopontin mRNA (fold change) (n = 13)

1.6 ± 2.5

−0.6 ± 0.3

0.012

−2.4 (−4.1 to −0.6)

0.69

Δ sputum osteopontin (ng/mL)

0.15 ± 0.6

−0.71 ± 0.6

<0.001

−0.85 (− 1.2 to −0.5)

0.92

Δ sputum inosine (nmol)

−0.1 ± 0.1

0.3 ± 0.2

<0.001

0.37 (0.29 to 0.43)

0.054

Δ sputum CD73 mRNA (fold change) (n = 13)

0.7 ± 1.3

−0.2 ± 0.6

0.01

−0.91 (−0.37 to −1.5)

0.99

Δ sputum CD73 (%)

0.58 ± 8.7

−7.5 ± 13.6

0.006

−8.3 (−13.8 to −2.7)

0.92

Δ sputum IL-13 (pg/mL)

−2.0 ± 9.9

−16.9 ± 8.3

<0.001

−15.0 (−20.4 to −9.6)

0.69

  1. Data are presented as mean ± SD
  2. ADA adenosine deaminase, IL interleukin, OPN osteopontin