Statins and adhesion molecules: a review of a novel pleiotropic property of statins

Statins were introduced as lipid-lowering agents that inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase; they are commonly administered to reduce cholesterol levels for cardioprotective purposes. Further studies suggested that statins have cholesterol-reducing-independent properties and exert pleiotropic therapeutic properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, neuroprotective, and other beneficial effects. Adhesion molecules, including selectins, integrins, cadherins, CD44, and the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) members, are essential mediators for those biological functions. The current review discusses studies performed in in vitro and in vivo in physiological and pathological models focusing on adhesion molecules such as Lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), macrophage-1 antigen (Mac-1), P-selectin, E-selectin, very late activation antigens-4 (VLA-4), and nectins that are therapeutically targeted by different types of statins and that highlight the potential therapeutic utility of statins for diseases other than cardiovascular disease.