title: Selenoprotein synthesis and side-effects of statins.
abstract: Statins are possibly the most effective drugs for the prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolaemia and coronary heart disease. They are generally well tolerated, however, they do cause some unusual side-effects with potentially severe consequences, most prominently myopathy or rhabdomyolysis and polyneuropathy. We noted that the pattern of side-effects associated with statins resembles the pathology of selenium deficiency, and postulated that the mechanism lay in a well established, but often overlooked, biochemical pathway--the isopentenylation of selenocysteine-tRNA([Ser]Sec). A negative effect of statins on selenoprotein synthesis does seem to explain many of the enigmatic effects and side-effects of statins, in particular, statin-induced myopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Medical School, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moosmann
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Behl
mesh_terms: D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D008954:Models, Biological; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D012643:Selenium / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D051140:Selenoproteins
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011506:Proteins; D051140:Selenoproteins; D012643:Selenium