Is There Potential for Repurposing Statins as Novel Antimicrobials?
Statins are members of a class of pharmaceutical widely used to reduce high levels of serum cholesterol. In addition, statins have so-called "pleiotropic effects," which include inflammation reduction, immunomodulation, and antimicrobial effects. An increasing number of studies are emerging which detail the attenuation of bacterial growth and in vitro and in vivo virulence by statin treatment. In this review, we describe the current information available concerning the effects of statins on bacterial infections and provide insight regarding the potential use of these compounds as antimicrobial therapeutic agents.
BIOMERIT Research Centre, School of Microbiology, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
Emma
E
Hennessy
BIOMERIT Research Centre, School of Microbiology, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
Claire
C
Adams
BIOMERIT Research Centre, School of Microbiology, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
F Jerry
FJ
Reen
BIOMERIT Research Centre, School of Microbiology, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia f.ogara@ucc.ie.
Fergal
F
O'Gara
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D058492:Drug Repositioning; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D037521:Virulence Factors