Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Biotech / Medical : Biotech Valuation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Casaubon who wrote (14617)	12/10/2004 8:40:18 AM
From: Biomaven	Respond to of 52153

reducing LDL vs. reducing LDL via statin use I'm suggesting that it's possible (even likely from my own perspective) that the dramatic benefits of statins come not from their effects on LDL but from a concomitant effect they are having as an anti-inflammatory. For example: Nat Med. 2001 Jun;7(6):687-92. Related Articles, Links Click here to read Click here to read Statins selectively inhibit leukocyte function antigen-1 by binding to a novel regulatory integrin site. Weitz-Schmidt G, Welzenbach K, Brinkmann V, Kamata T, Kallen J, Bruns C, Cottens S, Takada Y, Hommel U. Novartis Pharma AG, Preclinical Research, Basel, Switzerland. gabrielle.weitz@pharma.novartis.com The beta2 integrin leukocyte function antigen-1 (LFA-1) has an important role in the pathophysiology of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Here we report that statin compounds commonly used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia selectively blocked LFA-1-mediated adhesion and costimulation of lymphocytes. This effect was unrelated to the statins' inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase; instead it occurred via binding to a novel allosteric site within LFA-1. Subsequent optimization of the statins for LFA-1 binding resulted in potent, selective and orally active LFA-1 inhibitors that suppress the inflammatory response in a murine model of peritonitis. Targeting of the statin-binding site of LFA-1 could be used to treat diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, ischemia/reperfusion injury and transplant rejection. My skepticism comes mostly from studies "in the wild" where low overall cholesterol levels (particularly in the elderly) are universally associated with higher mortality. Peter