Statins

Question 1

What are Statins and how do they generally work?

Answer 1

Group of drugs that can reduce levels of cholesterol in the body by inhibiting the biosynthetic pathway that produces it

Primary application - treatment of dyslipidaemia

Question 2

What are the effects of too much Cholesterol?

Answer 2

Hypercholesterolaemia

CVD

Question 3

Describe Cholesterol and its functions

Answer 3

Makes membrane more fluid

Highly lipophilic - log P - 9.6

Transported through bloodstream by lipoproteins

• LDL
• HDL

Question 4

What are LDL particles?

Answer 4

Low Density Lipoprotein

Transports cholesterol & triglyceride lipids from liver to tissues

When a cell requires Cholesterol - it produces LDL receptors

LDL binds to receptors and is taken into cell

If Cholesterol from LDL is retained in arteries - formation of fatty plaques - Resulting in Atherosclerosis

Question 5

What are HDL particles?

Answer 5

High Density Lipoprotein

Smaller than LDL

Transport fatty acids & cholesterol away from cells to liver - where they are removed from blood

Contain more protein than LDL

Question 6

What is HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR)?

Answer 6

Enzyme that catalyses the rate determining step in the biosynthesis of Cholesterol

Statins inhibit HMGR