On the combined effect of statins and lycopene on cytokine production by human peripheral blood cells

Since both statins and lycopene exert immunomodulatory activities following incubation with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), the present work was designed to examine whether they may induce a synergistic or antagonistic effect on cytokine production while applied together. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from 15 healthy subjects were incubated for 24 h as follows: (1) without and with 0.125 or 0.25 mu M lycopene, (2) without and with 10 or 50 mM pravastatin or simvastatin, and (3) with lycopene and with one of the statins together at the respective doses. The production of the following cytokines was assessed: interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-1ra, IL-2, and IL-10, as well as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interferon gamma (IFN gamma). The results showed that lycopene and simvastatin applied together reduced TNFa and IFN gamma secretion, and abolished the increased production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1 beta caused by incubation with simvastatin only, an observation suggesting that simultaneous administration of both substances may reduce inflammatory responses.