This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by McFarlane, S. I. Articles by Sowers, J. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by McFarlane, S. I. Articles by Sowers, J. R.

Pleiotropic Effects of Statins: Lipid Reduction and Beyond

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Departments of Medicine and Cell Biology, State University of New York Health Science Center, Brooklyn, New York 11203; and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11209

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: James R. Sowers, M.D., F.A.C.P., Professor of Medicine and Cell Biology, Director of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension Division, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Box 1205, Brooklyn, New York 11203. E-mail: . jsowers{at}netmail.hscbklyn.edu

Abstract

There is accumulating evidence that statins have beneficial effects that are independent of their classical actions on lipoproteins. These effects include reductions in inflammation in the vasculature, kidney, and bone. Potential beneficial effects of these agents include enhancement of nitric oxide production in vasculature and the kidney. These agents appear to reduce bone fractures and may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the likelihood of persons progressing from impaired glucose tolerance to type II diabetes. Potential beneficial pleiotropic effects of statins are covered in this review.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M.-A. Cornier, D. Dabelea, T. L. Hernandez, R. C. Lindstrom, A. J. Steig, N. R. Stob, R. E. Van Pelt, H. Wang, and R. H. Eckel The Metabolic Syndrome Endocr. Rev., December 1, 2008; 29(7): 777 - 822. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Westphal, C. Abletshauser, and C. Luley Fluvastatin Treatment and Withdrawal: Effects on Endothelial Function Angiology, October 1, 2008; 59(5): 613 - 618. [Abstract] [PDF]

				V. Kolavennu, L. Zeng, H. Peng, Y. Wang, and F. R. Danesh Targeting of RhoA/ROCK Signaling Ameliorates Progression of Diabetic Nephropathy Independent of Glucose Control Diabetes, March 1, 2008; 57(3): 714 - 723. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Schindler Review: The metabolic syndrome as an endocrine disease: is there an effective pharmacotherapeutic strategy optimally targeting the pathogenesis? Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease, October 1, 2007; 1(1): 7 - 26. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Romayne Kurukulasuriya, G. Athappan, G. Saab, A. Whaley Connell, and J. R. Sowers Review: HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and renoprotection: the weight of the evidence Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease, October 1, 2007; 1(1): 49 - 59. [Abstract] [PDF]

				X. Zheng, X.-X. Cui, G. E. Avila, M.-T. Huang, Y. Liu, J. Patel, A. N. T. Kong, R. Paulino, W. J. Shih, Y. Lin, et al. Atorvastatin and Celecoxib Inhibit Prostate PC-3 Tumors in Immunodeficient Mice Clin. Cancer Res., September 15, 2007; 13(18): 5480 - 5487. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Xu, L. Zeng, H. Peng, S. Chen, J. Jones, T.-L. Chew, M. M. Sadeghi, Y. S. Kanwar, and F. R. Danesh HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin mitigates VEGF-induced "inside-out" signaling to extracellular matrix by preventing RhoA activation Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, November 1, 2006; 291(5): F995 - F1004. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Preoperative statin treatment is associated with reduced postoperative mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: an 8-year retrospective cohort study. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., March 1, 2006; 131(3): 679 - 685.

				C.-Y. Wei, K.-C. Huang, Y.-H. Chou, P.-F. Hsieh, K.-H. Lin, and W.-W. Lin The Role of Rho-Associated Kinase in Differential Regulation by Statins of Interleukin-1beta- and Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Nuclear Factor {kappa}B Activation and Inducible Nitric-Oxide Synthase Gene Expression in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Mol. Pharmacol., March 1, 2006; 69(3): 960 - 967. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. P. Brandes Statin-Mediated Inhibition of Rho: Only to Get More NO? Circ. Res., May 13, 2005; 96(9): 927 - 929. [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Mensah, M. M. Mocanu, and D. M. Yellon Failure to protect the myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury after chronic atorvastatin treatment is recaptured by acute atorvastatin treatment: A potential role for phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten? J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., April 19, 2005; 45(8): 1287 - 1291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Verhulst, P. C. D'Haese, and M. E. De Broe Inhibitors of HMG-CoA Reductase Reduce Receptor-mediated Endocytosis in Human Kidney Proximal Tubular Cells J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., September 1, 2004; 15(9): 2249 - 2257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. E. Sidaway, R. G. Davidson, F. McTaggart, T. C. Orton, R. C. Scott, G. J. Smith, and N. J. Brunskill Inhibitors of 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Reduce Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis in Opossum Kidney Cells J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., September 1, 2004; 15(9): 2258 - 2265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Almog, A. Shefer, V. Novack, N. Maimon, L. Barski, M. Eizinger, M. Friger, L. Zeller, and A. Danon Prior Statin Therapy Is Associated With a Decreased Rate of Severe Sepsis Circulation, August 17, 2004; 110(7): 880 - 885. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. L. Lazar Role of statin therapy in the coronary bypass patient Ann. Thorac. Surg., August 1, 2004; 78(2): 730 - 740. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. G. Futterman and L. Lemberg STATIN PLEIOTROPY: FACT OR FICTION? Am. J. Crit. Care., May 1, 2004; 13(3): 244 - 249. [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. R. DANESH and Y. S. KANWAR Modulatory effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in diabetic microangiopathy FASEB J, May 1, 2004; 18(7): 805 - 815. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. Pickup Inflammation and Activated Innate Immunity in the Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes Diabetes Care, March 1, 2004; 27(3): 813 - 823. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Susic, J. Varagic, J. Ahn, M. Slama, and E. D. Frohlich Beneficial pleiotropic vascular effects of rosuvastatin in two hypertensive models J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 17, 2003; 42(6): 1091 - 1097. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Luukkainen Issues to debate on the Women's Health Initiative study: Failure of estrogen plus progestin therapy for prevention of breast cancer risk Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2003; 18(8): 1559 - 1561. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Schachter Review: Lipid lowering drugs, inflammation and cardiovascular disease The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, May 1, 2003; 3(3): 178 - 182. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. Suwattee, J. C. Lynch, and M. L. Pendergrass Quality of Care for Diabetic Patients in a Large Urban Public Hospital Diabetes Care, March 1, 2003; 26(3): 563 - 568. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Cenedella, J. R. Kuszak, K. J. Al-Ghoul, S. Qin, and P. S. Sexton Discordant expression of the sterol pathway in lens underlies simvastatin-induced cataracts in Chbb: Thom rats J. Lipid Res., January 1, 2003; 44(1): 198 - 211. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Sowers and S. Haffner Treatment of Cardiovascular and Renal Risk Factors in the Diabetic Hypertensive Hypertension, December 1, 2002; 40(6): 781 - 788. [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. K. Shah Low-Density Lipoprotein Lowering and Atherosclerosis Progression: Does More Mean Less? Circulation, October 15, 2002; 106(16): 2039 - 2040. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Sowers Endothelial Vasodilation Effects of Statins in Type 2 Diabetic Patients : Response to van Venrooij et al. Diabetes Care, July 1, 2002; 25(7): 1242 - 1243. [Full Text] [PDF]