Tang, Ting-TingSong, YouDing, Ying-JunLiao, Yu-HuaYu, XianDu, RongXiao, HongYuan, JingZhou, Zi-HuaLiao, Meng-YangYao, RuiJevallee, HarishShi, Guo-PingCheng, Xiang2019-10-142011Tang, Ting-Ting, You Song, Ying-Jun Ding, Yu-Hua Liao, Xian Yu, Rong Du, Hong Xiao, et al. 2011. “Atorvastatin Upregulates Regulatory T Cells and Reduces Clinical Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.” Journal of Lipid Research 52 (5): 1023–32. doi:10.1194/jlr.M010876.0022-22751539-7262http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:41543149In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that regulatory T cells (T-reg) are involved in the immunomodulatory effects of statins on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The 12-week study cohort consisted of 55 RA patients and 42 control subjects allocated to either a group treated with atorvastatin (AT) (20 mg/day) or a non-AT group. T-reg numbers, suppressive function, serum inflammatory markers, and disease activity were evaluated before and after the therapy. Furthermore, the effects of AT on the frequency and suppressive function of T-reg were determined in vitro. Our data revealed that the suppressive function of T-reg from RA patients significantly decreased compared with that of control subjects. AT significantly reduced erythrosedimentation, C-reactive protein, and disease activity. Concomitantly, T-reg numbers and suppressive functions were significantly improved by AT. Consistent with the in vivo experiments, AT promoted the generation of T-reg from primary T cells and enhanced preexisting T-reg function in vitro. Moreover, we showed that PI3K-Akt-mTOR and ERK signal pathways were involved in the induction of T-reg by AT.jlr In conclusion, AT significantly increased T-reg numbers and restored their suppressive function in the RA patients, and this may be relevant in the modulation of uncontrolled inflammation in this disorder.-Tang, T-T., Y. Song, Y-J. Ding, Y-H. Liao, X. Yu, R. Du, H. Xiao, J. Yuan, Z-H. Zhou, M-Y. Liao, R. Yao, H. Jevallee, G-P. Shi, and X. Cheng. Atorvastatin upregulates regulatory T cells and reduces clinical disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J. Lipid Res. 2011. 52: 1023-1032en-USJournal Article2019-10-1410.1194/jlr.M010876