Description
Rosuvastatin is an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase that decreases serum LDL and VLDL and is used to treat atherosclerosis in clinical settings. In addition to anti-atherosclerotic benefit, rosuvastatin also exhibits anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and anti-platelet activities. In animal models, rosuvastatin decreases levels of plasma lipids and angiotensin II (ATII) by inhibiting expression of the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor and p-ERK1/2 and upregulating scavenger receptor B1. Separately, rosuvastatin downregulates ERK, p38MAPK, matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP2/9), and PAI expression, inhibiting migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. This compound also downregulates expression of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, inhibiting cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in animal models of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Additionally, rosuvastatin inhibits activation of NADPH oxidase and PKC, decreasing platelet recruitment and activation in vitro and ex vivo.