title: Mechanisms of statin-mediated inhibition of small G-protein function.
abstract: 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) have been reported to reduce the risk of Alzheimer disease. We have shown previously that statins inhibit a beta-amyloid (Abeta)-mediated inflammatory response through mechanisms independent of cholesterol reduction. Specifically, statins exert anti-inflammatory actions through their ability to prevent the isoprenylation of members of the Rho family of small G-proteins, resulting in the functional inactivation of these G-proteins. We report that statin treatment of microglia results in perturbation of the cytoskeleton and morphological changes due to alteration in Rho family function. Statins also block Abeta-stimulated phagocytosis through inhibition of Rac action. Paradoxically, the statin-mediated inactivation of G-protein function was associated with increased GTP loading of Rac and RhoA, and this effect was observed in myeloid lineage cells and other cell types. Statin treatment disrupted the interaction of Rac with its negative regulator the Rho guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (RhoGDI), an interaction that is dependent on protein isoprenylation. We propose that lack of negative regulation accounts for the increased GTP loading. Isoprenylation of Rac is also required for efficient interaction with the plasma membrane, and we report that statin treatment dramatically reduces the capacity of Rac to interact with membranes. These results suggest a mechanism by which statins inhibit the actions of Rho GTPases and attenuate Abeta-stimulated inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cordle
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koenigsknecht-Talboo
authors.forename: Brandy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Limpert
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Landreth
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007249:Inflammation; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D017368:Protein Prenylation; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins