Update on statin-mediated anti-inflammatory activities in atherosclerosis

Abstract

Anti-inflammatory activities of statins in atherosclerosis have been well documented by both basic research and clinical studies. Statins have been introduced in the 1980s as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors to block cholesterol synthesis and lower cholesterol serum levels. In the last three decades, statins have been shown to possess several anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities resulting in the beneficial reduction of atherosclerotic processes and cardiovascular risk in both humans and animal models. Inflammatory intracellular pathways involving kinase phosphorylation and protein prenylation are modulated by statins. The same intracellular mechanisms might also cause statin-induced myotoxicity. In the present review, we will update evidence on statin-mediated regulation of inflammatory pathways in atherogenesis.

Applied Healthspan Engineering

“…Thus, statins are a rational component of AHE, acting to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), to impede the progression of cardiovascular disease as well as multiple effects on inflammation, tissue repair, and homeostasis. 27 …”

Risk of pneumonia in patients taking statins: population-based nested case-control study

“…9 Another study demonstrated the ability of rosuvastatin to attenuate the inflammatory process by inhibiting endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression. 10 One review illustrated that statin types have their own immunomodulatory properties 11 and, therefore, that their effect on inflammatory processes might vary. A laboratory study demonstrated a significant reduction of leukocyte counts in septic mice treated with atorvastatin compared to other statins and placebo.…”

Is immunity a mechanism contributing to statin-induced diabetes?

“…HMGCR inhibition and targeted decrease in protein prenylation predominantly result in skewing immune responses toward anti-inflammatory characteristics, an effect that can occur independently of cholesterol lowering. [5][6][7][8][9] This anti-inflammatory effect is thought to be a significant component of the efficacy of statin therapy and the reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP, an inflammatory marker) has been directly associated with a reduction of myocardial infarction risk. 10,11 This has fostered large scale efforts to understand the cholesterol-and inflammatory-mediated contributions to the efficacy of statins and testing of the "inflammatory hypothesis" to see if other non-statin, anti-inflammatory strategies can improve cardiovascular outcomes.…”