Statins in endothelial signaling and activation.
The beneficial effects of statins, the most widely prescribed class of drugs in the world, are now recognized to extend well beyond their lipid-lowering properties. Through a combination of both distinct and interdependent effects on endothelial cell (EC) Rho GTPase regulation, NAPDH oxidase activity, NO bioavailability, and differential gene expression, statins confer significant protection of the vasculature. Abundant in vitro data, in addition to myriad reports relying on a range of animal models, now firmly support the idea that these drugs may serve as novel and effective therapeutic agents in a variety of disease states characterized by vascular dysfunction.
Jacobson
Jeffrey R
JR
Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. jjacobso@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
D000818:Animals; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects; D004727:Endothelium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D019255:NADPH Oxidases