2010 Volume 14 Issue 3 Pages 81-87
Statins are a class of drugs widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases to reduce hypercholesterolemia, and involve an increased prevalence of osteoporosis. Several studies suggested that statin mediates stimulation of bone remodeling. One of the statin family members was first isolated from Penicillin citrium (mevastatin), and another later from Aspergillus terreus (lovastatin). Roles of statins are mediated by competitive inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, such as inhibition of the mevalonate pathway. Statins have a potential antiinflammatory effect (IL-6), which may be related to promotion of bone growth and maintaining bone health. Statins in local use and general administration enhance osteoblastic differentiation and production of bone matrix proteins via bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) signaling pathways. Clinical applications of statins have increasingly been reported for bone fractures and implant dentistry. The present review introduces biophysiological functions of the statin family in normal remodeling of bone tissues demonstrated by both in vivo and in vitro studies, and in promoting bone growth caused by osteoprotegerin production by statins with BMP-2.
