The expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and C–C chemokine receptor 2 in post-kidney transplant patients and the influence of simvastatin treatment

Abstract Background Inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in post-kidney transplantation. Methods Sixty patients, selected from 167 renal transplant patients, were divided into 2 groups: Group A (normal lipidemia group, n  = 30) and Group B (hyperlipidemia group, n  = 30). In addition, Control Group came from 30 healthy volunteers. In Group B, the patients were treated with simvastatin for 3 months. The mRNA expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 were detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results The mRNA expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 of all post-kidney transplant patients were significantly higher than controls. Compare Group A with Group B and the mRNA expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 in Group B were much higher than Group A. After simvastatin treatment, the mRNA expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 were significantly reduced in one and a half months and decreased to the lowest levels in three months. Conclusions Simvastatin decreased the expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 in post-kidney transplant patients with hyperlipidemia.