Statin Drugs Implicated in Multiple Sclerosis

This post includes a synopsis of a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience Research 2010 Nov 15;88(15):3361-75

Study title and authors:
Simvastatin interferes with process outgrowth and branching of oligodendrocytes.
Smolders I, Smets I, Maier O, vandeVen M, Steels P, Ameloot M. Biomedical Research Institute, School of Life Sciences, Hasselt University and Transnational University Limburg, Diepenbeek, Belgium.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20857509

Oligodendrocytes are a type of brain cell. They are the cell type that is predominantly affected in multiple sclerosis. Myelin is the protective sheath coating our nerve fibers. Any adverse effects on oligodendrocytes and myelin are detrimental and are implicated in multiple sclerosis.The study focused on the effects of stain drugs on oligodendrocytes and myelin.

The study found:
(a) Cholesterol is required for the growth of oligodendrocytes.
(b) Statins inhibited the growth of oligodendrocytes.
(c) Statins inhibited the growth of myelin.

To conclude: Statin treatment has detrimental effects on oligodendrocyte growth, which is the prior step in (re)myelination, and thereby inhibits the healing of multiple sclerosis lesions.