Evaluation of the anti-HIV activity of statins.
Recent data suggest that statins block HIV-1 replication, which may have important implications for an alternative treatment for AIDS. We tested different statins in cell culture against HIV and conducted a pilot study in HIV-positive patients receiving simvastatin. No anti-HIV activity was detected at subtoxic concentrations and simvastatin did not induce a significant change in the mean viral load or CD4 cell count in study patients. We caution on the use of statins as antiretroviral agents.
Moncunill
Gemma
G
Retrovirology Laboratory IrsiCaixa and HIV Unit, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
Negredo
Eugenia
E
Bosch
Lluís
L
Vilarrasa
Jaume
J
Witvrouw
Myriam
M
Llano
Anuska
A
Clotet
Bonaventura
B
Esté
José A
JA
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002784:Cholesterol; D019821:Simvastatin