Statin-induced Ca(2+) release was increased in B lymphocytes in patients who showed elevated serum creatine kinase during statin treatment.

AIM: Statins are effective in lowering cholesterol levels, but cause fatal rhabdomyolysis in susceptible individuals. Because it has been hypothesized that muscle damage could result from alterations in Ca(2+) homeostasis in muscle cells, we tested whether measuring statin-induced changes in intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) is useful for predicting susceptibility to statin-muscle damage, using human CD19+ primary B lymphocytes. METHODS: Statin-induced alterations in [Ca(2+)](i) were studied using the human THP-1 cell line and CD19+ primary B lymphocytes. Changes in [Ca(2+)](i) were measured directly in fluo-3- loaded cells using either single or dual-color flow cytometry. RESULTS: The Ca(2+) release study suggested that statin-induced changes in [Ca(2+)](i) were due to Ca(2+) release from ryanodine-sensitive Ca(2+) stores and mitochondrial compartments. Further, statin users who experienced elevated creatine kinase (n=8) exhibited significantly greater statin-induced Ca(2+) release in B cells than healthy volunteers (n=45) and statin users without elevated creatine kinase (n=16), while no difference was seen between the latter two groups. CONCLUSION: Statin-induced Ca(2+) release from ryanodine-sensitive stores and mitochondria may contribute to myotoxicity. The laboratory test for Ca(2+) release using CD19+ primary B lymphocytes may be useful to predict susceptibility to statin-induced muscle toxicity prior to statin use.