Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: The Effects of Simvastatin on Th17 Cytokines and Th17 Polarizing Cytokines in COPD Patients
Brief Summary: Airway inflammation is partly driven by Th17 and Th17-polarizing cytokines that is steroid-resistant. Statins could suppress IL-17 cytokines in other diseases such as atherosclerosis and multiple sclerosis in mouse model. The investigators hypothesize that statins might provide anti-inflammatory benefit of suppressing IL-17 cytokines in COPD patients.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Stable COPD without an exacerbation within 3 months prior to study entry
* mild, moderate and severe COPD with or without treatments, regardless of COPD medications

Exclusion Criteria:

* Concomitant other chronic lung diseases including with TB and malignancy
* HIV
* Being on immunosuppressive drugs and systemic corticosteroids
* Dyslipidemic patients with recent cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease within 6 month prior to study entry
* Cognitive impairment
* Currently on macrolides, azole anti-fungal agents, amiodarone and amlodipine
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female patients aged 45-80 years;
* Confirmed COPD: FEV1 30-80% predicted, FEV1/FVC\<0.7, salbutamol reversibility \<12%, supportive smoking history
* If female of childbearing potential, have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and use a medically acceptable form of contraception starting at screening and continuing throughout the study (defined as an oral contraceptive, or barrier method combined with a spermicide)
* Able to attend for regular clinic appointments
* In opinion of investigator, the patient will be able to comply with the requirements of the protocol
* Provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Known hypersensitivity to or side effects relating to previous statin treatment, or current therapy which includes a statin, ezetimibe or fibrate
* Clinically significant liver function abnormality; alcohol excess
* Hypercholesterolaemia \> or equal to 6.5mmol/L
* Females who are pregnant, breast feeding, or at risk of pregnancy and not using a medically acceptable form of contraception.
* Any condition judged by investigator that would cause the study to be detrimental to patient.
* Conditions: rheumatoid disease/other collagen vascular disease requiring therapy; diabetes mellitus; untreated hypothyroidism; inflammatory bowel disease; other respiratory disease; known alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency; malignancy; documented history of ischaemic heart disease (IHD); cor pulmonale or known congestive heart failure; patients planning to undergo elective surgery during the study period.
* Exacerbation in the last 4 weeks.
* Significant hypoxia (PaO2 \<7.3kPa)
* Known lactose intolerance.
* Therapies: oral prednisolone for more than 1 week in the last 6 months; disease modifying drugs (Gold/ sulphasalazine etc); weight losing drugs; concomitant use of warfarin, cyclosporine; concomitant administration of potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g. itraconazole, ketoconazole, HIV protease inhibitors, erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin and nefazodone). Use of any investigational drug within four weeks of the baseline visit.
C: Inclusion criteria:

* COPD Subjects
* A COPD subject will be eligible for inclusion in this study only if all of the following criteria apply:
* Male or female subjects, aged 40-75 years inclusive
* A baseline (post-bronchodilator) FEV1 \<80% of predicted normal and a baseline (post-bronchodilator) FEV1/FVC ratio 70%
* Current or ex-smokers with a smoking history of at least 10 pack-years (number of pack years = (number of cigarettes per day / 20) x number of years smoked e.g., 20 cigarettes per day for 10 years, or 10 cigarettes per day for 20 years).
* A signed and dated written informed consent is obtained prior to participation
* Able to comply with the requirements of the protocol and be available for study visits over 3 years

Control Subjects - Current/Ex Smokers

* A control subject will be eligible for inclusion in this study only if all of the following criteria apply:
* Male or female subjects, aged 40-75 years inclusive, who are free from significant disease as determined by history, physical examination and screening investigations
* Baseline (post-bronchodilator) FEV1 \>85% of predicted normal. FEV1/FVC ratio \>70%
* Current or ex-smokers with a smoking history of at least 10 pack-years (number of pack years = (number of cigarettes per day / 20) x number of years smoked e.g., 20 cigarettes per day for 10 years, or 10 cigarettes per day for 20 years).
* A signed and dated written informed consent is obtained prior to participation.
* Able to comply with the requirements of the protocol and be available for study visits over 3 years

Control Subjects - Non-smokers

* A non-smoking control subject will be eligible for inclusion in this study only if all of the following criteria apply:
* Male or female subjects, aged 40-75 years inclusive, who are free from significant disease as determined by history, physical examination and screening investigations
* Baseline (post-bronchodilator) FEV1 \>85% of predicted normal. FEV1/FVC ratio \>70%
* Non-smokers with a smoking history of \< 1 pack-year (number of pack years = (number of cigarettes per day / 20) x number of years smoked).
* A signed and dated written informed consent is obtained prior to participation.
* Able to comply with the requirements of the protocol and be available for study visits over 3 years

Exclusion Criteria:

COPD Subjects

* A COPD subject will not be eligible for inclusion in this study if any of the following criteria apply:
* Known respiratory disorders, or disorders identified at screening/visit 1 (including identification on the first CT scan), other than COPD (e.g.: lung cancer, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, lung fibrosis, cystic fibrosis)
* Known history of significant inflammatory disease, other than COPD (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus)
* Known to be severely alpha-1-antitrypsin deficient (PI SZ or ZZ)
* Having undergone lung surgery (e.g. lung reduction, lung transplant)
* Have cancer or have had cancer in the 5 years prior to study entry
* Serious, uncontrolled disease (including serious psychological disorders) likely to interfere with the study or impact on subject safety
* Is enrolled in a long term blinded drug study (subjects in open label studies may be considered and subjects in short blinded studies (approx less than 12 weeks may be considered following consultation with sponsor) or a study where there is significant radiation exposure (e.g.: CT scans)
* Have, in the opinion of the investigator, evidence of alcohol, drug or solvent abuse
* Have received a blood transfusion in the 4 weeks prior to study start
* Has experienced a moderate or severe exacerbation (requiring oral corticosteroid, antibiotics or hospitalisation) within the last 4 weeks. All courses of oral corticosteroids and antibiotics must be completed at least 2 weeks before study start
* Is on long term oral corticosteroids (long term is considered use for more than 3 consecutive months)
* Unable to walk
* Subject is a participating investigator, sub-investigator, study co-ordinator, or employee of a participating investigator, or is an immediate family member of the aforementioned.

Control Subjects

* A control subject will not be eligible for inclusion in this study if any of the following criteria apply:
* Known respiratory disorders, or disorders identified at screening/visit 1 including identification on the first CT scan (e.g.: COPD, asthma, lung cancer, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, lung fibrosis)
* Known history of significant inflammatory disease (eg rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus)
* Known to be severely alpha-1-antitrypsin deficient (PI SZ or ZZ)
* Having undergone lung surgery (e.g. lung reduction, lung transplant)
* Have cancer or have had cancer in the 5 years prior to study entry
* Serious, uncontrolled disease (including serious psychological disorders) likely to interfere with the study
* Is enrolled in a long term blinded drug study (subjects in open label studies may be considered and subjects in short blinded studies (approx less than 12 weeks may be considered following consultation with sponsor) or a study where there is significant radiation exposure (e.g.: CT scans)
* Have, in the opinion of the investigator, evidence of alcohol, drug or solvent abuse.
* Have received a blood transfusion in the 4 weeks prior to study start
* Is on long term oral corticosteroids (long term is considered use for more than 3 consecutive months)
* Subject is a participating investigator, sub-investigator, study co-ordinator, or employee of a participating investigator, or is an immediate family member of the aforementioned.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

. Written informed consent must be obtained before any assessment is performed. 2. Male and female adults aged ≥40 years, who have signed an Informed Consent Form prior to initiation of any study-related procedure.

3. Patients with moderate to very severe stable COPD (Stage II-IV) according to the GOLD guidelines.

4. Patients with a post-bronchodilator FEV1 \< 80% of the predicted normal, and a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC \< 0.70 at Visit 1.

5. Current or ex-smokers who have a smoking history of at least 10 pack years

Exclusion criteria

1. Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women
2. Women of child-bearing potential, unless they are using effective methods of contraception during dosing of study treatment. 5. 3. Patients with a clinically significant abnormality at Visit 1.

4. Patients with a clinically relevant laboratory abnormality at Visit 1 5. Patients with a history of malignancy of any organ system (including lung cancer).

6. Patients contraindicated for treatment with statins 7. Patients unable to perform acceptable spirometry and lung volumes procedures.

8. Patients who have had a COPD exacerbation that required treatment with antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids and/or hospitalization in the 6 weeks prior to Visit 1.

9. Patients who have had a respiratory tract infection within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1.

10. Patients requiring oxygen therapy (\>15 hr/day) on a daily basis for chronic hypoxemia 11. Patients with any history of asthma or onset of symptoms prior to age 40 years.

12. Patients with concomitant pulmonary disease, (e.g. lung fibrosis, sarcoidosis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, tuberculosis).

13. Patients with primary bronchiectasis. 14. Patients with a diagnosis of α-1 anti-trypsin deficiency. 15. Patients with pulmonary lobectomy or lung volume reduction surgery or lung transplantation.

16. Patients participating in or planning to participate in the active phase of a supervised pulmonary rehabilitation program during the study.

17. Patients receiving any medications in the class listed in Table 5.1 18. Use of other investigational drugs within 30 days prior to visit 1.

Answer: A