Favorable effects of statins beyond lipid lowering. (February 2006)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nakagami, Hironori; Kaneda, Yasufumi; Ogihara, Toshio; Morishita, Ryuichi
• Is Part Of: Future lipidology. Volume 1:Number 1(2006)
• Page Start: 75
• Page End: 80
• Publication Date: 2006-02
• Subjects: 3-hydoxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor -- endothelial nitric oxide synthase -- endothelial progenitor cell -- osteoporosis -- peripheral arterial disease -- statin; Lipids -- Periodicals; 616.3997
• DOI: 10.2217/17460875.1.1.75
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-0875

Abstract

3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (or statins) ameliorate disorders including ischemic diseases associated with morbidity and mortality. Although statins improve cardiovascular diseases, they also elicit favorable effects on peripheral arterial disease, cardiac hypertrophy, ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation recurrence and aortic stenosis, while the risk of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and osteoporosis is reduced. Statins reduce the migration of leukocytes, inhibit major histocompatibility complex class II and decrease the expression of inflammatory mediators in the CNS; they also inhibit nuclear factor-κκB activity, thereby blocking the acceleration of osteoporosis. Statins increase the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells, which augment neovascularization, accelerate re-endothelialization and may improve postischemic cardiac function. Thus, statins have a broad therapeutic effect beyond that of cardioprotection and potentially show great promise in regenerative therapies.