Toward immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of statins

Over the past decade, a large number of studies reported a prominent role of inflammation and immune response in atherosclerosis. Thus, therapeutic strategies to reduce inflammation could exert beneficial effects in the prevention of atherosclerosis progression. Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (statins) have demonstrated their capacity to greatly reduce coronary morbidity and mortality in both primary and secondary intervention trials. Furthermore, originally described as the most efficient drugs to reduce serum cholesterol, recent reports suggest that statins also confer cardiovascular benefits by their ability to modulate immuno-inflammatory processes. This review summarizes in vitro and in vivo evidence of immunomodulatory properties of statins.