Statins and Blood-Brain Barrier / 国际脑血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

By inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, statins up-regulate the expression and activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in brain tissues, increase the levels of serum catalase and plasma nitric oxide, enhance antioxidant capacity, decrease oxygen free radical release, improve immunoreactivities of tight junction (zonula occludens), transmembrane proteins and glial fibrillary acidic protein of astrocyte. Stains may also exert the effects that is completely unrelated with inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, e.g. binding to leucocyte function-associated antigen-1(LFA-1) L-site, restraining its interactions between LFA-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and playing anti-inflammation and immunoloregulation roles. The above mechanisms contribute to remain the integrity of blood-brain barrier and the activity of astrocyte under the pathological conditions.