Antioxidative eVects of statins
Oliver Adam, Ulrich Laufs · 2008
Abstract HMG CoA reductase inhibitiors (stat- ins) have been shown to be eVective lipid lowering agents and are beneWcial in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. However, the overall beneWts observed with statins appear to be greater than what might be expected from changes in lipid levels alone and the posi- tive eVects have only partially been reproduced with other lipid lowering drugs, suggesting eVects in addition to cho- lesterol lowering. In experimental models, many of the cho- lesterol-independent eVects of statins are mediated by inhibition of isoprenoids, which serve as lipid attachments for intracellular signalling molecules such as small Rho guanosine triphosphate-binding proteins, whose membrane localization and function are dependent on isoprenylation. This review summarizes the eVects of statins on endothelial function and oxidative stress.