title: Could simvastatin be considered as a potential therapy for chronic lung diseases? A debate on the pros and cons.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Simvastatin (SV) is a drug from the statin class, currently used orally as an anti-cholesterolemic drug. It inhibits the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-Coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase to reduce cholesterol synthesis. Recently, it has been found that SV also has several other protective pharmacological actions unrelated to its anti-cholesterol effects that might be beneficial in the treatment of chronic airway diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review summarizes the evidence relating to SV as a potential anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and muco-inhibitory agent, administered both orally and via pulmonary inhalation, and discusses its pro and cons. Evidence could potentially be used to support the delivery of SV as inhaled formulation for the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of SV as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and muco-inhibitory agent for drug delivery to the lung is promising. Inhaled SV formulations could allow the delivery profile to be customized and optimized to take advantage of the rapid onset of action, low systemic side effect and improved physico-chemical stability. This treatment could potentially to be used clinically for the localized treatment of lung diseases where inflammation and oxidative stress production is present.
authors.affiliation: a Respiratory Technology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School , Sydney University , Australia.|b Faculty of Pharmacy , Umm Al Qura University , Makkah , Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Alaa S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Tulbah
authors.affiliation: a Respiratory Technology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School , Sydney University , Australia.
authors.forename: Hui Xin
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pharmacy , University of Parma , Parma , Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.affiliation: a Respiratory Technology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School , Sydney University , Australia.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: a Respiratory Technology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School , Sydney University , Australia.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Traini
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin
keywords: Simvastatin; anti-inflammatory; anti-oxidant; muco-inhibitory; respiratory diseases; stability