Statins in the treatment of central nervous system autoimmune disease.
Statins, inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, are widely prescribed for their cholesterol-lowering properties to reduce atherogenesis and cardiovascular morbidity. Over recent years, statins have also been shown to exert pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects that might be of therapeutic benefit in autoimmune disorders. The primary mechanism by which statins alter immune function appears to be mediated through the inhibition of post-translational protein prenylation of small GTP-binding proteins and is largely independent of lipid-lowering. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the mouse model for multiple sclerosis (MS), statins prevent or reverse paralysis and were recently shown to exert synergistic benefit when combined with agents approved for MS therapy. Based primarily upon the beneficial effects in EAE, statins are now being tested in patients in MS clinical trials.
Weber
Martin S
MS
Department of Neurology and Program in Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
Youssef
Sawsan
S
Dunn
Shannon E
SE
Prod'homme
Thomas
T
Neuhaus
Oliver
O
Stuve
Olaf
O
Greenwood
John
J
Steinman
Lawrence
L
Zamvil
Scott S
SS
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000187:drug effects; D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors