It Slices It Dices
Spanish researchers are reporting that statins may also slow HIV as well (note: I don’t think I’d really call them “heart drugs,” more “cholesterol drugs,” but whatever). (Full text.) Statins work by inhibiting an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase, which is necessary for your body to make cholesterol. But the enzyme is also important in the process of making molecular switches, which tell your cells whether to change their shape in response to a stimulus.
When mice infected with a mouse version of HIV were given the statins, they had fewer virii in their bodies and more CD4 helper T cells in their bloodstream (this is a good thing). The same effect occured using a more specific enzyme inhibitor–potentially another target for HIV drugs? (via Mercola)
It’s great that someone understands all the biochemistry and molecular biology of this stuff, but I still don’t understand why I have to for the boards.
Hi Graham,
Yes, some camps are calling statins the aspirin of the new century. We’ll see, but for me the interesting thing is: why are you citing Mercola?!
After your well-informed diatribe against ACSH (which was nicely done, by the way) I would’ve thought you’d avoid sites with such obvious conflicts of interest. In fact, Mercola surprises me — when I was fighting to get his site removed from Medlogs last month, I referred to his posts about cholesterol and HIV as reason why he’s a menace (he was saying dyslipidemia could be prevented with his diet pills and cookbook, and that patients should quit taking harmful statins. He also cites awful, discredited stories that HIV doesn’t cause AIDS).
I don’t know why he’s changed his tune now, but it’s probably in the best interest of his online sales. Search for “HIV AIDS” on his site’s search, or “statins harm” and you’ll see what he’s been writing.