Document Detail


Statin effects on cholesterol micro-domains in brain plasma membranes.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  12628479     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Recent epidemiological studies revealed inhibitors of the hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, so-called statins, to be effective in lowering the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In vitro, statins strongly reduced the cellular amyloid beta-protein load by modulating the processing of the amyloid beta precursor protein. Both observations are probably linked to cellular cholesterol homeostasis in brain. So far, little is known about brain effects of statins. Recently, we could demonstrate that treatment of mice with the lipophilic compound lovastatin resulted in a discrete reduction of brain membrane cholesterol levels. To follow up these findings, we subsequently carried out a further in vivo study including lovastatin and simvastatin as lipophilic agents, as well as pravastatin as a hydrophilic compound, focussing on their efficiency to affect subcellular membrane cholesterol pools in synaptosomal plasma membranes of mice. In contrast to the hydrophilic pravastatin, the lipophilic lovastatin and simvastatin strongly reduced the levels of free cholesterol in SPM. Interestingly, lovastatin and pravastatin but not simvastatin significantly reduced cholesterol levels in the exofacial membrane leaflet. These changes were accompanied by modified membrane bulk fluidity. All three statins reduced the expression of the raft marker protein flotillin. Alterations in transbilayer cholesterol distribution have been suggested as the underlying mechanism that forces amyloidogenic processing of APP in AD. Thus, our data give some first insight in the mode of action of statins to reduce the prevalence of AD in clinical trials.
Authors:
Christopher Kirsch; Gunter P Eckert; Walter E Mueller
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Biochemical pharmacology     Volume:  65     ISSN:  0006-2952     ISO Abbreviation:  Biochem. Pharmacol.     Publication Date:  2003 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2003-03-11     Completed Date:  2003-03-18     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0101032     Medline TA:  Biochem Pharmacol     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  843-56     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Biocenter Niederursel, University of Frankfurt, Marie-Curie-Str. 9, Germany.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Anisotropy
Brain / drug effects*,  metabolism
Cell Membrane / drug effects*,  metabolism
Cholesterol / metabolism*
Cyclodextrins / pharmacology
Diphenylhexatriene / chemistry,  metabolism
Female
Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry,  metabolism
Gene Expression / drug effects
Lovastatin / pharmacology*
Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Pyrenes / metabolism
Simvastatin / pharmacology*
Synaptosomes / drug effects,  metabolism
Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid / chemistry
beta-Cyclodextrins*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Cyclodextrins; 0/Fluorescent Dyes; 0/Membrane Proteins; 0/Pyrenes; 0/beta-Cyclodextrins; 0/flotillins; 0/methyl-beta-cyclodextrin; 129-00-0/pyrene; 1720-32-7/Diphenylhexatriene; 2508-19-2/Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; 57-88-5/Cholesterol; 75330-75-5/Lovastatin; 79902-63-9/Simvastatin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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