The use of pitavastatin appears to have a significant impact on one key marker of epigenetic aging in people living with HIV, according to the results of a small pilot study recently published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Although preliminary, the findings suggest a potential role for statins in combating signs of accelerated biological aging that are seen in many people with HIV.
Highlighted Study Population and Methods
This publication described a nested substudy of the landmark REPRIEVE clinical trial that explored the effects of the statin pitavastatin on DNA methylation as molecular biomarkers of aging in people living with HIV. REPREIVE study participants were randomized to receive pitavastatin 4 mg daily versus placebo for primary cardiovascular disease prevention in people living with HIV.
For this analysis of aging markers, 99 participants were randomly selected (65 pitavastatin, 34 placebo; ages 55-60; on stable antiretroviral treatment (ART), with low-to-moderate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk) from U.S. REPRIEVE study sites. Their median age was 57 years, 19% were female, 51% were white, 40% were Black.
Two epigenetic clocks measuring DNA methylation were used:
PCGrimAge, based on methylation markers that correlate with plasma proteins and smoking pack-years. Estimates biological age and time to death, CVD, and other age-related comorbid risks.
DunedinPACE, which measures current rate of aging rather than chronological age. The assay is sensitive to changes in lifestyle and inflammation, and correlates with physical decline, cognitive performance, and morbidity risks.
The primary endpoint of the analysis was change in DunedinPACE score over time.
Key Findings
Baseline biological age was elevated in both groups. Calculated median PCGrimAge exceeded chronological age by about seven years across the cohort.
PCGrimAge analysis showed persistent age acceleration in both treatment groups over 24 months (P = 0.89).
DunedinPACE analysis showed that the placebo group had a statistically increased pace of epigenetic aging (P = 0.21) compared with no change in pitavastatin recipients (P = 0.77); the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.49).
Read an expert analysis from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D. at TheBodyPro.
Source : TheBodyPro
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