scholarly journals The Effects of Statins on Neurotransmission and Their Neuroprotective Role in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 2838
Author(s):  
Michał Kosowski ◽  
Joanna Smolarczyk-Kosowska ◽  
Marcin Hachuła ◽  
Mateusz Maligłówka ◽  
Marcin Basiak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Basic Mechanism ◽  
Pleiotropic Effects ◽  
Metabolic Effects ◽  
Lipid Lowering ◽  
Lipid Lowering Therapy ◽  
Psychiatric Diseases ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects ◽  
Drug Classes ◽  
Probable Impact

Statins are among the most widely used drug classes in the world. Apart from their basic mechanism of action, which is lowering cholesterol levels, many pleiotropic effects have been described so far, such as anti-inflammatory and antiatherosclerotic effects. A growing number of scientific reports have proven that these drugs have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system. The first reports proving that lipid-lowering therapy can influence the development of neurological and psychiatric diseases appeared in the 1990s. Despite numerous studies about the mechanisms by which statins may affect the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS), there are still no clear data explaining this effect. Most studies have focused on the metabolic effects of this group of drugs, however authors have also described the pleiotropic effects of statins, pointing to their probable impact on the neurotransmitter system and neuroprotective effects. The aim of this paper was to review the literature describing the impacts of statins on dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and glutamate neurotransmission, as well as their neuroprotective role. This paper focuses on the mechanisms by which statins affect neurotransmission, as well as on their impacts on neurological and psychiatric diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular dementia (VD), stroke, and depression. The pleiotropic effects of statin usage could potentially open floodgates for research in these treatment domains, catching the attention of researchers and clinicians across the globe.

scholarly journals Pleiotropic Effects of PCSK-9 Inhibitors

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 3144
Author(s):  
Marcin Basiak ◽  
Michał Kosowski ◽  
Marcin Cyrnek ◽  
Łukasz Bułdak ◽  
Mateusz Maligłówka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Human Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Pleiotropic Effects ◽  
Lipid Lowering ◽  
Lipid Lowering Therapy ◽  
Low Density

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK-9) inhibitors are a group of drugs whose main mechanism of action is binding to the PCSK-9 molecule, which reduces the degradation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) and, hence, increases the uptake of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) from the bloodstream as well as reducing its concentration. The effectiveness of three monoclonal antibodies, namely, alirocumab (human IgG1/κ monoclonal antibody, genetically engineered in Chinese hamster ovary cells), evolocumab (the first fully human monoclonal antibody), and bococizumab (humanized mouse antibody), in inhibiting the action of PCSK-9 and reducing LDLc levels has been confirmed. The first two, after clinical trials, were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are used primarily in the treatment of autosomal familial hypercholesterolemia and in cases of statin intolerance. They are currently used both as monotherapy and in combination with statins and ezetimibe to intensify therapy and achieve therapeutic goals following the American Heart Association (AHA) and European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines. However, the lipid-lowering effect is not the only effect of action described by researchers that PCSK-9 inhibitors have. This paper is a review of the literature describing the pleiotropic effects of PCSK-9 inhibitors, which belong to a group of drugs that are being increasingly used, especially when standard lipid-lowering therapy fails. The article focuses on activities other than lipid-lowering, such as the anti-atherosclerotic effect and stabilization of atherosclerotic plaque, the anti-aggregation effect, the anticoagulant effect, the antineoplastic effect, and the ability to influence the course of bacterial infections. In this publication, we try to systematically review the current scientific data, both from our own scientific work and knowledge from international publications.

Structure and Function of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) in Hyperlipidemia and Atherosclerosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 1029-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinjie Lu
Keyword(s):  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Ldl Receptor ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Lipid Lowering ◽  
Lipid Lowering Therapy ◽  
Proprotein Convertase ◽  
Novel Target ◽  
New Treatments ◽  
And Function

Background:One of the important factors in Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism is the LDL receptor (LDLR) by its capacity to bind and subsequently clear cholesterol derived from LDL (LDL-C) in the circulation. Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin-like Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a newly discovered serine protease that destroys LDLR in the liver and thereby controls the levels of LDL in plasma. Inhibition of PCSK9-mediated degradation of LDLR has, therefore, become a novel target for lipid-lowering therapy.Methods:We review the current understanding of the structure and function of PCSK9 as well as its implications for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.Results:New treatments such as monoclonal antibodies against PCSK9 may be useful agents to lower plasma levels of LDL and hence prevent atherosclerosis.Conclusion:PCSK9's mechanism of action is not yet fully clarified. However, treatments that target PCSK9 have shown striking early efficacy and promise to improve the lives of countless patients with hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

Efficacy and Safety of Evolocumab in Reducing Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in Chinese Patients with Non-ST-segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohan Xu ◽  
Meng Chai ◽  
Yujing Cheng ◽  
Pingan Peng ◽  
Xiaoli Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Statin Treatment ◽  
Chinese Patients ◽  
Lipid Lowering ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Lipid Lowering Therapy ◽  
St Segment Elevation ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
St Segment

Aims: To explore early intensive lipid-lowering therapy in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Background: Lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels can reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Due to many reasons, the need for early intensive lipid-lowering therapy is far from being met in Chinese NSTE-ACS patients at high-risk of recurrent ischaemic events. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of starting evolocumab in hospital to lower LDL-C levels in Chinese patients with NSTE-ACS. Methods: In this prospective cohort study initiated by researchers, 334 consecutive patients with NSTE-ACS who had sub-standard LDL-C levels (LDL-C ≥2.3 mmol/L after regular oral statin treatment for at least 4 weeks; or LDL-C ≥3.2 mmol/L without regular oral statin treatment) were included. Patients who agreed to treatment with evolocumab (140 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks, initiated in hospital and used for 12 weeks after discharge) were enrolled in the evolocumab group (n=96) and others in the control group (n=238). All enrolled patients received regular statin treatment (atorvastatin 20 mg/day or rosuvastatin 10 mg/day; doses unchanged throughout the study).The primary endpoint was the change in LDL-C levels from baseline to week 12. Results: Most patients (67.1%) had not received regular statin treatment before. In the evolocumab group, LDL-C levels decreased significantly at week 4 and remained stable at week 8 and 12 (all p<0.001). At week 12, the LDL-C percentage change from baseline in the evolocumab group was -79.2±12.7% (from an average of 3.7 to 0.7 mmol/L), while in the control group it was -37.4±15.4% (from an average of 3.3 to 2.0 mmol/L). The mean difference between these 2 groups was -41.8% (95% CI -45.0 to -38.5%; p<0.001). At week 12, the proportions of patients with LDL-C levels <1.8 mmol/L and 1.4 mmol/L in the evolocumab group were significantly higher than in the control group (96.8 vs 36.1%; 90.6 vs 7.1%; both p<0.001). The incidence of adverse events and cardiovascular events was similar in both groups. Conclusions: In this prospective cohort study we evaluated the early initiation of evolocumab in NSTE-ACS patients in China. Evolocumab combined with statins significantly lowered LDL-C levels and increased the probability of achieving recommended LDL-C levels, with satisfactory safety and well tolerance.

scholarly journals Coronary lesion complexity in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction: data from the RICO survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hermann Yao ◽  
Michel Farnier ◽  
Laura Tribouillard ◽  
Frédéric Chague ◽  
Philippe Brunel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Ldl Cholesterol ◽  
Statin Treatment ◽  
Lipid Lowering ◽  
Syntax Score ◽  
Lipid Lowering Therapy ◽  
Lipid Clinic ◽  
Acute Mi ◽  
Artery Disease

Abstract Background Although patients with familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia (FH) have a high risk of early myocardial infarction (MI), the coronary artery disease (CAD) burden in FH patients with acute MI remains to be investigated. Methods The data for all consecutive patients hospitalized in 2012–2019 for an acute MI and who underwent coronary angiography were collected from a multicenter database (RICO database). FH (n = 120) was diagnosed using Dutch Lipid Clinic Network criteria (score ≥ 6). We compared the angiographic features of MI patients with and without FH (score 0–2) (n = 234) after matching for age, sex, and diabetes (1:2). Results Although LDL-cholesterol was high (208 [174–239] mg/dl), less than half of FH patients had chronic statin treatment. When compared with non-FH patients, FH increased the extent of CAD (as assessed by SYNTAX score; P = 0.005), and was associated with more frequent multivessel disease (P = 0.004), multiple complex lesions (P = 0.022) and significant stenosis location on left circumflex and right coronary arteries. Moreover, FH patients had more multiple lesions, with an increased rate of bifurcation lesions or calcifications (P = 0.021 and P = 0.036, respectively). In multivariate analysis, LDL-cholesterol levels (OR 1.948; 95% CI 1.090–3.480, P = 0.024) remained an independent estimator of anatomical complexity of coronary lesions, in addition to age (OR 1.035; 95% CI 1.014–1.057, P = 0.001). Conclusions FH patients with acute MI had more severe CAD, characterized by complex anatomical features that are mainly dependent on the LDL-cholesterol burden. Our findings reinforce the need for more aggressive preventive strategies in these high-risk patients, and for intensive lipid-lowering therapy as secondary prevention.

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