Statins: immunomodulators for autoimmune rheumatic disease?

Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylgluttaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, or statins, are used extensively to reduced elevated lipid levels and reduce cardiovascular risk. However, accumulated evidence suggests that stains not only act by lowering cholesterol levels, but also exert pleiotropic effec...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Lupus 2005-01, Vol.14 (3), p.192-196
Main Authors: Jury, E C, Ehrenstein, M R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Humans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - immunology
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use
Immunologic Factors - immunology
Immunologic Factors - therapeutic use
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - drug therapy
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology
Rheumatic Diseases - drug therapy
Rheumatic Diseases - immunology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylgluttaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, or statins, are used extensively to reduced elevated lipid levels and reduce cardiovascular risk. However, accumulated evidence suggests that stains not only act by lowering cholesterol levels, but also exert pleiotropic effects on many essential cellular functions including cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival and participate in the regulation of cell shape and motility. Thus cardiovascular benefit is provided by lowering raised cholesterol levels and by modulation of the inflammatory component of this disease. Such an anti-inflammatory effect may also benefit patients with autoimmune rheumatic disease. This overview assesses the evidence for using statins in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
ISSN:0961-2033
1477-0962
DOI:10.1191/0961203303lu2135oa