The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Statins on Coronary Artery Disease: An Updated Review of the Literature

Overview

Journal Curr Cardiol Rev

Publisher Bentham Science Publishers

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2017 May 3

PMID 28462692

Citations 88

Authors

Evangelos Diamantis

George Kyriakos

Lourdes Victoria Quiles-Sanchez

Paraskevi Farmaki

Theodoros Troupis

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Statins have long been used for the protection against coronary artery disease (CAD). Their beneficial effect apart from cholesterol reduction lies in their pleiotropic properties. Emerging evidence from laboratory studies and clinical trials as well have pointed out the pivotal role of inflammation on the initiation and exacerbation of atherosclerosis; a major cause of CAD. Inflammation markers such as high sensitivity C-reactive protein and adhesion molecules are shown to increase in CAD patients and are used as prognostic tools. It is well known that statins can actually reduce the circulating levels of these agents slowing therefore the inflammatory process; interestingly not all types have the same outcome.

Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory effect of statins on the formation of atherosclerotic plaque and the function of endothelial cells is thus of particular importance as these agents can actually ameliorate CAD prognosis.

Citing Articles

Role of Statins in Reducing Cardiovascular Mortality: A Systematic Review of Long-Term Outcomes.

Seth B, Okello D, Saad Ullah S, Yousaf R, Alfalasi S, Hafeez M Cureus. 2025; 17(1):e78137.

PMID: 40018472 PMC: 11867218. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.78137.

Inflammatory Pathways in Coronary Artery Disease: Which Ones to Target for Secondary Prevention?.

Cheng W, Wang Y Cells. 2025; 14(3).

PMID: 39936945 PMC: 11817712. DOI: 10.3390/cells14030153.

Neural progenitor cell-derived exosomes in ischemia/reperfusion injury in cardiomyoblasts.

Arvola O, Stigzelius V, Ampuja M, Kivela R BMC Neurosci. 2025; 26(1):11.

PMID: 39910431 PMC: 11800440. DOI: 10.1186/s12868-025-00931-1.

Recent advances in the management of knee osteoarthritis: a narrative review.

Shtroblia V, Petakh P, Kamyshna I, Halabitska I, Kamyshnyi O Front Med (Lausanne). 2025; 12:1523027.

PMID: 39906596 PMC: 11790583. DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1523027.

Mushrooms, Microdosing, and Mental Illness: The Effect of Psilocybin on Neurotransmitters, Neuroinflammation, and Neuroplasticity.

Kinderlehrer D Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2025; 21:141-155.

PMID: 39897712 PMC: 11787777. DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S500337.

References

Kapiotis S, Holzer G, Schaller G, Haumer M, Widhalm H, Weghuber D . A proinflammatory state is detectable in obese children and is accompanied by functional and morphological vascular changes. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2006; 26(11):2541-6. DOI: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000245795.08139.70. View

Aydin M, Aygul N, Altunkeser B, Unlu A, Taner A . Comparative effects of high-dose atorvastatin versus moderate-dose rosuvastatin on lipid parameters, oxidized-LDL and inflammatory markers in ST elevation myocardial infarction. Atherosclerosis. 2015; 239(2):439-43. DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.02.003. View

Husain K, Hernandez W, Ansari R, Ferder L . Inflammation, oxidative stress and renin angiotensin system in atherosclerosis. World J Biol Chem. 2015; 6(3):209-17. PMC: 4549761. DOI: 10.4331/wjbc.v6.i3.209. View

Koskinas K, Windecker S, Raber L . Regression of coronary atherosclerosis: Current evidence and future perspectives. Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2015; 26(2):150-61. DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2015.05.004. View

Singh P, Kohr D, Kaps M, Blaes F . Influence of statins on MHC class I expression. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009; 1173:746-51. DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04646.x. View

Brinjikji W, Yong Hong D, Dai D, Schroeder D, Kallmes D, Kadirvel R . Statins are not associated with short-term improved aneurysm healing in a rabbit model of unruptured aneurysms. J Neurointerv Surg. 2016; 9(2):200-203. DOI: 10.1136/neurintsurg-2016-012265. View

Culver A, Ockene I, Balasubramanian R, Olendzki B, Sepavich D, Wactawski-Wende J . Statin use and risk of diabetes mellitus in postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative. Arch Intern Med. 2012; 172(2):144-52. DOI: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.625. View

Liu M, Yu Y, Jiang H, Zhang L, Zhang P, Yu P . Simvastatin suppresses vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis in ApoE(-/-) mice by downregulating the HMGB1-RAGE axis. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2013; 34(6):830-6. PMC: 4002903. DOI: 10.1038/aps.2013.8. View

Vernaglione L, Cristofano C, Muscogiuri P, Chimienti S . Does atorvastatin influence serum C-reactive protein levels in patients on long-term hemodialysis?. Am J Kidney Dis. 2004; 43(3):471-8. DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2003.11.008. View

10.

Barrientos S, Brem H, Stojadinovic O, Tomic-Canic M . Clinical application of growth factors and cytokines in wound healing. Wound Repair Regen. 2014; 22(5):569-78. PMC: 4812574. DOI: 10.1111/wrr.12205. View

11.

Corsonello A, Garasto S, Abbatecola A, Rose G, Passarino G, Mazzei B . Targeting inflammation to slow or delay functional decline: where are we?. Biogerontology. 2010; 11(5):603-14. DOI: 10.1007/s10522-010-9289-0. View

12.

Artom N, Montecucco F, Dallegri F, Pende A . Carotid atherosclerotic plaque stenosis: the stabilizing role of statins. Eur J Clin Invest. 2014; 44(11):1122-34. DOI: 10.1111/eci.12340. View

13.

Albert M, Danielson E, Rifai N, Ridker P . Effect of statin therapy on C-reactive protein levels: the pravastatin inflammation/CRP evaluation (PRINCE): a randomized trial and cohort study. JAMA. 2001; 286(1):64-70. DOI: 10.1001/jama.286.1.64. View

14.

Yamakawa T, Takano T, Tanaka S, Kadonosono K, Terauchi Y . Influence of pitavastatin on glucose tolerance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Atheroscler Thromb. 2008; 15(5):269-75. DOI: 10.5551/jat.e562. View

15.

Krane V, Winkler K, Drechsler C, Lilienthal J, Marz W, Wanner C . Effect of atorvastatin on inflammation and outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on hemodialysis. Kidney Int. 2008; 74(11):1461-7. DOI: 10.1038/ki.2008.484. View

16.

Sattar N, Taskinen M . Statins are diabetogenic--myth or reality?. Atheroscler Suppl. 2012; 13(1):1-10. DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosissup.2012.06.001. View

17.

Tousoulis D, Andreou I, Tsiatas M, Miliou A, Tentolouris C, Siasos G . Effects of rosuvastatin and allopurinol on circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with congestive heart failure: the impact of inflammatory process and oxidative stress. Atherosclerosis. 2010; 214(1):151-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2010.11.002. View

18.

Sena C, Matafome P, Louro T, Nunes E, Seica R . Effects of atorvastatin and insulin in vascular dysfunction associated with type 2 diabetes. Physiol Res. 2014; 63(2):189-97. DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.932554. View

19.

Liu H, Yang Y, Yang S, Luo J, Li H, Jing L . Administration of a loading dose of atorvastatin before percutaneous coronary intervention prevents inflammation and reduces myocardial injury in STEMI patients: a randomized clinical study. Clin Ther. 2013; 35(3):261-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2013.01.009. View

20.

Sekhar M, Unnikrishnan M . South-Asian population has a higher likelihood for diabetes risk for statins regardless of potency. Med Hypotheses. 2015; 84(3):283-4. DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2014.12.026. View