Mechanism of statin-induced rhabdomyolysis. 2013

Kazuho Sakamoto, and Junko Kimura
Department of Pharmacology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Japan.

Statins, a group of drugs used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, have adverse effects on skeletal muscle. The symptoms of these effects range from slight myalgia to severe rhabdomyolysis. The number of patients currently taking statins is estimated to be several millions worldwide. However, the mechanism of statins' myotoxic effects is unclear. Statins inhibit biosynthesis of mevalonate, a rate-limiting step of cholesterol synthesis, by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase. Mevalonate is also an essential precursor for producing isoprenoids such as farnesylpyrophosphate and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate. These isoprenoids are especially important for anchoring small GTPases to the membrane before they function; e.g., Ras GTPases modulate proliferation and apoptosis, Rho GTPases control cytoskeleton formation, and Rab GTPases are essential for intracellular vesicle trafficking. Inactivation of these small GTPases alters cellular functions. Recently, we successfully reproduced statin-induced myotoxicity in culture dishes using in vitro skeletal muscle systems (e.g., skeletal myotubes and myofibers). This review summarizes our findings that statins induce depletion of isoprenoids and inactivation of small GTPases, especially Rab, which are critical for statin-induced myotoxicity. Although further study is required, our findings may contribute to the prevention and treatment of statins' adverse effects on skeletal muscle and development of safer anti-hypercholesterolemia drugs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000924 Anticholesteremic Agents Substances used to lower plasma CHOLESTEROL levels. Cholesterol Inhibitors,Hypocholesteremic Agents,Anticholesteremic Drugs,Anticholesteremics,Inhibitors, Cholesterol,Agents, Anticholesteremic,Agents, Hypocholesteremic,Drugs, Anticholesteremic
D012206 Rhabdomyolysis Necrosis or disintegration of skeletal muscle often followed by myoglobinuria. Rhabdomyolyses
D018482 Muscle, Skeletal A subtype of striated muscle, attached by TENDONS to the SKELETON. Skeletal muscles are innervated and their movement can be consciously controlled. They are also called voluntary muscles. Anterior Tibial Muscle,Gastrocnemius Muscle,Muscle, Voluntary,Plantaris Muscle,Skeletal Muscle,Soleus Muscle,Muscle, Anterior Tibial,Muscle, Gastrocnemius,Muscle, Plantaris,Muscle, Soleus,Muscles, Skeletal,Muscles, Voluntary,Skeletal Muscles,Tibial Muscle, Anterior,Voluntary Muscle,Voluntary Muscles
D019161 Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors Compounds that inhibit HYDROXYMETHYLGLUTARYL COA REDUCTASES. They have been shown to directly lower CHOLESTEROL synthesis. HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor,HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors,Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitor,Statin,Statins, HMG-CoA,Inhibitors, HMG-CoA Reductase,Inhibitors, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA,Inhibitors, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-Coenzyme A,Statins,HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitor,HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitors,HMG-CoA Statins,Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductase Inhibitor,Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductase Inhibitors,Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Inhibitors,Hydroxymethylglutaryl-Coenzyme A Inhibitors,Inhibitors, HMG CoA Reductase,Inhibitors, Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA,Inhibitors, Hydroxymethylglutaryl Coenzyme A,Inhibitors, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase,Reductase Inhibitor, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA,Reductase Inhibitors, HMG-CoA,Reductase Inhibitors, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA,Statins, HMG CoA
D020691 rab GTP-Binding Proteins A large family of MONOMERIC GTP-BINDING PROTEINS that play a key role in cellular secretory and endocytic pathways. Rab GTPase,rab G-Proteins,rab GTP-Binding Protein,rab GTPases,G-Proteins, rab,GTP-Binding Protein, rab,GTP-Binding Proteins, rab,GTPase, Rab,GTPases, rab,Protein, rab GTP-Binding,rab G Proteins,rab GTP Binding Protein,rab GTP Binding Proteins
D020741 rho GTP-Binding Proteins A large family of MONOMERIC GTP-BINDING PROTEINS that are involved in regulation of actin organization, gene expression and cell cycle progression. This enzyme was formerly listed as EC 3.6.1.47. rho G-Proteins,rho GTPase,rho GTPases,rho Small GTP-Binding Proteins,P21 (rho)Protein,rho GTP-Binding Protein,rho Protein P21,G-Proteins, rho,GTP-Binding Protein, rho,GTP-Binding Proteins, rho,GTPase, rho,GTPases, rho,P21, rho Protein,rho G Proteins,rho GTP Binding Protein,rho GTP Binding Proteins,rho Small GTP Binding Proteins

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