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The beneficial effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in the processes of neurodegeneration

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Abstract

Statins, cholesterol lowering drugs, have been demonstrated to exert beneficial effects in other conditions such as primary and progressing neurodegenerative diseases beyond their original role. Observation that statins ameliorate the neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and cerebral ischemic stroke, the neuroprotective effects of these drugs are thought to be linked to their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-excitotoxic properties. Despite the voluminous literature on the clinical advantages of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Co-enzyme A reductase (HMGCR) inhibitors (statins) in cardiovascular system, the neuroprotective effects and the underlying mechanisms are little understood. Hence, the present review tries to provide a critical overview on the statin-induced neuroprotection, which are presumed to be associated with the ability to reduce cholesterol, Amyloid-β and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) levels, decrease reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) formation, inhibit excitotoxicity, modulate matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), stimulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and increase cerebral blood perfusion. This review is also aimed to illustrate that statins protect neurons against the neuro-inflammatory processes through balancing pro-inflammatory/anti-inflammatory cytokines. Ultimately, the beneficial role of statins in ameliorating the development of PD, AD, MS and cerebral ischemic stroke has been separately reviewed.

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Abbreviations

HMG-CoA:

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Co-enzyme A

HMGCR:

HMG-CoA reductase

PD:

Parkinson’s disease

AD:

Alzheimer’s disease

MS:

Multiple sclerosis

eNOS:

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase

ApoE:

Apolipoprotein E

LDL:

Low-density lipoprotein

IL:

Interleukin

TGF-β:

Transforming growth factor-beta

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

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  1. Seyed Soheil Saeedi Saravi and Seyed Sobhan Saeedi Saravi are equally considered as first author.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Toxicology-Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

    Seyed Soheil Saeedi Saravi

  2. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Soheil Saeedi Saravi, Alireza Arefidoust & Ahmad Reza Dehpour

  3. Experimental Medicine Research Center, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Soheil Saeedi Saravi, Alireza Arefidoust & Ahmad Reza Dehpour

  4. Department of Toxicology-Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

    Seyed Sobhan Saeedi Saravi

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  1. Seyed Soheil Saeedi Saravi
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  2. Seyed Sobhan Saeedi Saravi
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  3. Alireza Arefidoust
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  4. Ahmad Reza Dehpour
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Correspondence to Ahmad Reza Dehpour.

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Saeedi Saravi, S.S., Saeedi Saravi, S.S., Arefidoust, A. et al. The beneficial effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in the processes of neurodegeneration. Metab Brain Dis 32, 949–965 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-017-0021-5

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