Description
Pitavastatin is an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase that is used to treat atherosclerosis in clinical settings. Pitavastatin exhibits anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and antioxidative activities. In vitro and in vivo, pitavastatin increases expression of LEL receptors and liver X receptors (LXRs). Pitavastatin also decreases myocarditis pathology in vivo, through inhibition of STAT3/4, decreases in production of IFN-γ and IL-17, and prevention of Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation. Additionally, pitavastatin downregulates expression of IL-6 and inhibits proliferation of lymphocytes, decreasing graft arterial disease and improving cardiac allograft rejection in animal models. In other animal models, this compound increases levels of HDL, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase; it also decreases serum triglycerides, lipid peroxides, apolipoprotein B (apoB), and total cholesterol.
References
Tajiri K, Shimojo N, Sakai S, et al. Pitavastatin regulates helper T-cell differentiation and ameliorates autoimmune myocarditis in mice. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2013 Oct;27(5):413-24. PMID: 23722419.
Ansari JA, Bhandari U, Haque SE, et al. Enhancement of antioxidant defense mechanism by pitavastatin and rosuvastatin on obesity-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats. Toxicol Mech Methods. 2012 Jan;22(1):67-73. PMID: 21859367.
Abd El-Latif MI, Murota H, Terao M, et al. Effects of a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor and low-density lipoprotein on proliferation and migration of keratinocytes. Br J Dermatol. 2010 Jul;163(1):128-37. PMID: 20163419.
Suzuki J, Koga N, Kosuge H, et al. Pitavastatin suppresses acute and chronic rejection in murine cardiac allografts. Transplantation. 2007 Apr 27;83(8):1093-7. PMID: 17452900.
Aoki T, Yamazaki H, Suzuki H, et al. Cholesterol-lowering effect of NK-104, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, in guinea pig model of hyperlipidemia. Arzneimittelforschung. 2001;51(3):197-203. PMID: 11304935.
