Statin Immunomodulation: Role in Transplantation and Disease Conditions
Ndubuisi N. NwobodoDepartment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Abstract: The pleiotropic effects of statins suggest that their therapeutic benefits may probably extend beyond cholesterol lowering in cardiovascular disease to organ transplantation and other disease conditions, particularly autoimmune disease. This is attributable to their modulating influence on immune mechanisms mediated by inhibition of prenylated proteins. Isoprenoid intermediates generated by the mevalonate pathway are involved in post translational prenylation of signal transduction proteins. Reduction in allograft rejection is linked to immunomodulatory function of statins; graft rejection been enhanced by down regulation of pro-inflammatory T-helper 1 cells. Conclusively, the therapeutic potential of statins has been proven in organ transplantation and other disease conditions due to their potent immunomodulatory characteristic.
Keywords: Autoimmune disease; Immunomodulation; Organ Transplantation; Protein prenylation; Statins; Therapeutic benefit Back to TOC