Mechanisms underlying pleiotropic effects of statins.

Statins are the most efficacious hypolipidemic drugs available. Numerous meta-analyses of clinical trials have provided unequivocal evidence that statins are effective and safe in preventing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with and without pre-existing ischemic heart disease. With widespread usage of statins, its actions other than that of lipid-lowering have started to emerge. Although the effects of statins were initially attributed to a reduction in lipid levels, many benefits are now considered to stem from effects other than lipid modulation. In this review, we describe the mechanisms of these pleiotropic effects and the pathways involved in these effects.