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OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the effects of a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, losmapimod, on vascular inflammation, by (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging. BACKGROUND: The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade plays an important role in the initiation and progression of inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis. METHODS: Patients with atherosclerosis on stable statin therapy (n = 99) were randomized to receive losmapimod 7.5 mg once daily (lower dose [LD]), twice daily (higher dose [HD]) or placebo for 84 days. Vascular inflammation was assessed by FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging of the carotid arteries and aorta; analyses focused on the index vessel (the artery with the highest average maximum tissue-to-background ratio [TBR] at baseline). Serum inflammatory biomarkers and FDG uptake in visceral and subcutaneous fat were also measured. RESULTS: The primary endpoint, change from baseline in average TBR across all segments in the index vessel, was not significantly different between HD and placebo (ΔTBR: -0.04 [95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.14 to +0.06], p = 0.452) or LD and placebo (ΔTBR: -0.02 [95% CI: -0.11 to +0.06], p = 0.579). However, there was a statistically significant reduction in average TBR in active segments (TBR ≥1.6) (HD vs. placebo: ΔTBR: -0.10 [95% CI: -0.19 to -0.02], p = 0.0125; LD vs. placebo: ΔTBR: -0.10 [95% CI: -0.18 to -0.02], p = 0.0194). The probability of a segment being active was also significantly reduced for HD when compared with placebo (OR: 0.57 [95% CI: 0.41 to 0.81], p = 0.002). Within the HD group, reductions were observed in placebo-corrected inflammatory biomarkers including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (% reduction: -28% [95% CI: -46 to -5], p = 0.023) as well as FDG uptake in visceral fat (ΔSUV: -0.05 [95% CI: -0.09 to -0.01], p = 0.018), but not subcutaneous fat. CONCLUSIONS: Despite nonsignificant changes for the primary endpoint of average vessel TBR, HD losmapimod reduced vascular inflammation in the most inflamed regions, concurrent with a reduction in inflammatory biomarkers and FDG uptake in visceral fat. These results suggest a systemic anti-inflammatory effect. (A Study to Evaluate the Effects of 3 Months Dosing With GW856553, as Assessed FDG-PET/CT Imaging; NCT00633022).

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.jcmg.2012.02.016

Type

Journal article

Journal

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging

Publication Date

09/2012

Volume

5

Pages

911 - 922

Keywords

Aged, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Aortitis, Atherosclerosis, Carotid Artery Diseases, Cyclopropanes, Double-Blind Method, Female, Fluorodeoxyglucose F18, Humans, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors, Inflammation Mediators, Intra-Abdominal Fat, Male, Middle Aged, Multimodal Imaging, Odds Ratio, Positron-Emission Tomography, Predictive Value of Tests, Protein Kinase Inhibitors, Pyridines, Radiopharmaceuticals, Subcutaneous Fat, Time Factors, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Treatment Outcome, United Kingdom, p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases