Statins are effective
lipid-lowering drugs with a good safety profile that have become, over the years, the first-line
therapy for patients with
dyslipidemia and a real cornerstone of cardiovascular (CV) preventive
therapy. Thanks to both
cholesterol-related and "pleiotropic" effects,
statins have a beneficial impact against CV diseases. In particular, by reducing
lipids and
inflammation statins, they can influence the pathogenesis of both
myocardial infarction and
diabetic cardiomyopathy. Among inflammatory mediators involved in these diseases,
interleukin (IL)-1β is a pro-inflammatory
cytokine that recently been shown to be an effective target in
secondary prevention of CV events.
Statins are largely prescribed to patients with
myocardial infarction and diabetes, but their effects on IL-1β synthesis and release remain to be fully characterized. Of interest, preliminary studies even report IL-1β secretion to rise
after treatment with
statins, with a potential impact on the inflammatory microenvironment and
glycemic control. Here, we will summarize evidence of the role of
statins in the prevention and treatment of
myocardial infarction and
diabetic cardiomyopathy. In accordance with the dual
lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effect of these drugs and in light of the important results achieved by IL-1β inhibition through
canakinumab in CV
secondary prevention, we will dissect the current evidence linking
statins with IL-1β and outline the possible benefits of a potential double treatment with
statins and
canakinumab.