title: Stimulation of bone formation in vitro and in rodents by statins.
abstract: Osteoporosis and other diseases of bone loss are a major public health problem. Here it is shown that the statins, drugs widely used for lowering serum cholesterol, also enhance new bone formation in vitro and in rodents. This effect was associated with increased expression of the bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) gene in bone cells. Lovastatin and simvastatin increased bone formation when injected subcutaneously over the calvaria of mice and increased cancellous bone volume when orally administered to rats. Thus, in appropriate doses, statins may have therapeutic applications for the treatment of osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: OsteoScreen, 2040 Babcock Road, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. mundy@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mundy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boyce
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012886:Skull; D014162:Transfection; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
chemical_list: C525718:BMP2 protein, human; C525719:Bmp2 protein, mouse; C525720:Bmp2 protein, rat; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C499469:recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin