title: Drug Insight: using statins to treat neuroinflammatory disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of California San Francisco (UCSF), CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Martin S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prod'homme
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steinman
authors.forename: Scott S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Zamvil
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors