Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

In Vitro and In Vivo Models to Study Corneal Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 20, 2016
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors reduce matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity in human varicose veins
S Nomura1, K Yoshimura, N Akiyama
1Department of Medical Bioregulation, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
Abstract:
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in tissue degradation in varicose veins. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) on the activity of MMPs in varicose veins. MMP-9 was present at significantly higher levels in varicose veins than in controls and was localized mainly in smooth muscle cells at the tunica media, where marked degradation of the extracellular matrix was observed. Both simvastatin and pravastatin strikingly suppressed MMP-9 activity in ex vivo culture of varicose veins. Simvastatin suppressed MMP-9 at both the mRNA and protein levels as well as at the urokinase-type plasminogen activator protein level, resulting in the dramatic suppression of MMP-9 activity induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Therefore, statins suppress MMP-9 activity by multiple mechanisms in varicose veins, suggesting they may have clinical potential for the treatment of this disease.
Related Concept Videos
Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Role of Matrix Metalloproteases in Degradation of ECM
A...
Varicose Veins II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors
Acarbose and miglitol are typically...
