The effect of simvastatin induced neurotoxicity on mitochondrial function in human neuronal cells.

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase (HMGR) inhibitors, commonly known as statins, are drugs frequently used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia. However, the current study has demonstrated that simvastatin induces neurotoxicity and is associated with cellular coenzyme Q (CoQ) depletion. CoQ has a significant role in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), in addition to being a fundamental lipid-soluble antioxidant.