Pleiotropic vasoprotective effects of statins: the chicken or the egg?

Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A [HMG-CoA] reductase inhibitors) are the most commonly used lipid-lowering drugs. Their main lipid-lowering effect is achieved by an increase in the expression of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol receptors associated with inhibition of cholesterol sy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Drug design, development and therapy development and therapy, 2009-09, Vol.3 (default), p.191-204
Main Authors: Kirmizis, Dimitrios, Chatzidimitriou, Dimitrios
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemical synthesis
Cholesterol
Coenzyme A
Epidemiology
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase
immunomodulatory
Inhibition
Lipids
Metabolic pathways
pleiotropic effects
Poultry
Receptors
Review
Statins
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Summary:Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A [HMG-CoA] reductase inhibitors) are the most commonly used lipid-lowering drugs. Their main lipid-lowering effect is achieved by an increase in the expression of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol receptors associated with inhibition of cholesterol synthesis through inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase - the first and rate-limiting step in cholesterol synthesis. However, beyond cholesterol synthesis inhibition, inhibition of the HMG-CoA reductase affects as well the synthesis of other molecules with significant roles in different, yet often intercalating, metabolic pathways. On this basis, and supported by an increasing series of advocating epidemiological and experimental data, an extended dialogue has been established over the last few years regarding the nonlipid or "pleiotropic" actions of statins.
ISSN:1177-8881
1177-8881
DOI:10.2147/dddt.s5407