Drug Insight: using statins to treat neuroinflammatory disease.
Statins, a family of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, are used primarily to reduce atherogenesis and cardiovascular morbidity. Surprisingly, they have also been shown to have immunomodulatory properties that might be of benefit for the treatment of autoimmune disorders. Statins can prevent and even reverse ongoing paralysis in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis--the mouse model for multiple sclerosis--and on the basis of these findings, statins are now being tested in patients with multiple sclerosis in clinical trials.
Weber
Martin S
MS
University of California San Francisco (UCSF), CA 94143, USA.
Prod'homme
Thomas
T
Steinman
Lawrence
L
Zamvil
Scott S
SS
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors