As a class of pharmaceutical agents, the traditional indication for statin drugs has been for their lipid-low-ering capabilities. This lipid-lowering action is mediated via targeting of the mevalonate pathway through inhibition of the enzyme, HMG CoA reductase causing decreased downstream cholesterol production. Inhibition of the mevalonate pathway also attenuates production of isoprenoids. These compounds facilitate activation of the small GTP-binding proteins, Rac, Ras, Rho and CDC42, which are critical to the functioning of diverse intracel-lular kinase pathways.
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