Zocor curbs smoking-related lung damage, in rats

	Tweet

Treatment with the cholesterol-lowering drug simvastatin, better known as Zocor, can inhibit the lung damage that occurs with smoking-induced Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to findings from an animal study.

In addition to blocking the formation of cholesterol, “statin” drugs have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, as well as other benefits for blood vessels. In theory, all of these effects could help counter the lung damage caused by cigarette smoking.

To investigate, Dr. Sang-Do Lee, from Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Korea, and colleagues examined the lungs of rats exposed or not exposed to cigarette smoke while being treated with or without simvastatin for 16 weeks.

The researchers’ findings are reported in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

In addition to blocking lung tissue destruction and High Blood Pressure in the lungs’ circulation, simvastatin inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells into pulmonary tissue. As anticipated, the drug also had beneficial effects on blood vessels.

“Taken together, these findings indicate that Statins could potentially play a role in the treatment of cigarette smoking-induced COPD," the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, October 15, 2005.

RELATED STORIES:
Cholesterol levels continue to drop   Monthly shots of Amgen drug slash cholesterol up to 66 percent   Study supports soy cholesterol benefits for some   New advance announced in reducing ‘bad’ cholesterol   Cholesterol drugs safe, even after a decade of use   Green tea shows small effect on cholesterol   Cleveland Clinic researcher reports that evacetrapib can increase HDL (good) cholesterol 128 percent   Targeting cholesterol to fight deadly brain cancers   Astra’s Crestor drug fails to beat Pfizer’s Lipitor   Diet alone helps lower bad cholesterol: study   ‘Good’ cholesterol function as important as its levels   Super-sticky ‘ultra-bad’ cholesterol revealed in people at high risk of heart disease

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]