The regulation of hepatic cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism was studied in the ethinyl estradiol-treated rat in which low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors are increased many fold. Cholesterol synthesis was reduced at both its diurnal peak and trough by ethinyl estradiol. The diurnal variation in 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase was abolished, whereas that for ac...

The clinical benefits of statins are strongly related to their low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering properties. However, because mevalonic acid (MVA), the product of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase reaction, is the precursor not only of cholesterol but also of nonsteroidal isoprenoid compounds, the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase may result in pleiot...

There is a strong, positive, independent, continuous, graded relation between hypercholesterolemia and the risk for coronary heart disease (CAD). In clinical trials, it has been shown that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors or statins inhibit HMGCoA reductase competitively, reduce LDL levels more than other cholesterol-lowering drugs and lower triglyceride leve...

Statins inhibit hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase with consequent suppression of cholesterol biosynthesis. The advent of these drugs has significantly impacted the treatment of cardiovascular disease with well documented benefit in primary and secondary prevention1-3. However, several clinical and basic science investigations suggested that the beneficial effects...

We have developed an enzyme immunoassay for mevalonic acid (MVA), using a specific monoclonal antibody. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation calculated on two urine samples were 3.3% and 3.4%, respectively, in the intraassay precision test and 3.5% and 6.9% in the interassay evaluation. Pravastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, was admini...