Hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase is the rate-limiting enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway and the target of the “statin” class of cholesterol-lowering drugs.1 Lovastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor that was initially isolated from Aspergillus terreus.2 Marketed as Mevinolin™, Mevacor™, and under several other trade names, Lovastatin was the first HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor to be used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. It is a competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase with a Ki value of 0.6 nM for the open ring, hydroxy acid form of the molecule.3 During a three week study in dogs, a dose of 8 mg/kg per day resulted in a 29% reduction in plasma cholesterol.3 Lovastatin also suppresses TNF-induced NF-κB activation (IC50 ~ 15 µM), which potentiates apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia cells and thus, maybe useful in treating cancer.4
1
Tobert, J.A. Lovastatin and beyond: The history of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Nat Rev Drug Discov2517-526(2003).
2
Endo, A. The discovery and development of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. J Lipid Res331569-1582(1992).
3
Alberts, A.W., Chen, J., Kuron, G., et al. Mevinolin: A highly potent competitive inhibitor of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase and a cholesterol-lowering agent. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA77(7)3957-3961(1980).
4
Ahn, K.S., Sethi, G., and Aggarwal, B.B. Reversal of chemoresistance and enhancement of apoptosis by statins through down-regulation of the NF-κB pathway. Biochem Pharmacol75907-913(2008).
Tobert, J.A. Lovastatin and beyond: The history of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Nat Rev Drug Discov2517-526(2003).
Endo, A. The discovery and development of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. J Lipid Res331569-1582(1992).
Ahn, K.S., Sethi, G., and Aggarwal, B.B. Reversal of chemoresistance and enhancement of apoptosis by statins through down-regulation of the NF-κB pathway. Biochem Pharmacol75907-913(2008).
Alberts, A.W., Chen, J., Kuron, G., et al. Mevinolin: A highly potent competitive inhibitor of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase and a cholesterol-lowering agent. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA77(7)3957-3961(1980).