Magnesium cation effect on passive diffusion of statin molecules: Molecular chromatography approach

Synergistic effects of magnesium ions and simvastatin on attenuation of high-fat diet-induced bone loss

Introduction

Magnesium (Mg) has a prophylactic potential against the onset of hyperlipidemia. Similar to statin, Mg is recommended as lipid-lowering medication for hypercholesterolemia and concomitantly exhibits an association with increased bone mass. The combination of statin with Mg ions (Mg²⁺) may be able to alleviate the high-fat diet (HFD)-induced bone loss and reduce the side-effects of statin. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of combined Mg²⁺ with simvastatin (SIM) for treating HFD-induced bone loss in mice and the involving mechanisms.

Materials and methods

C57BL/6 male mice were fed with a HFD or a normal-fat diet (NFD). Mice were intraperitoneally injected SIM and/or orally received water with additional Mg²⁺ until sacrificed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure cytokines and cholesterol in serum and liver lysates. Bone mineral density (BMD) and microarchitecture were assessed by micro-computed tomography (μCT) in different groups. The adipogenesis in palmitate pre-treated HepG2 cells was performed under various treatments.

Results

μCT analysis showed that the trabecular bone mass was significantly lower in the HFD-fed group than that in NFD-fed group since week 8. The cortical thickness in HFD-fed group had a significant decrease at week 24, as compared with NFD-fed group. The combination of Mg²⁺ and SIM significantly attenuated the trabecular bone loss in HFD-fed mice via arresting the osteoclast formation and bone resorption. Besides, such combination also reduced the hepatocytic synthesis of cholesterol and inhibited matrix metallopeptidase 13 (Mmp13) mRNA expression in pre-osteoclasts.

Conclusions

The combination of Mg²⁺ and SIM shows a synergistic effect on attenuating the HFD-induced bone loss. Our current formulation may be a cost-effective alternative treatment to be indicated for obesity-related bone loss.

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High-fat diet-fed mouse has a susceptibility to lower trabecular bone mass as compared with that of normal-fat diet-fed mouse.

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The combination of Mg²⁺ and simvastatin attenuates the trabecular bone loss in high-fat diet-fed mice.

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The combination of Mg²⁺ and simvastatin reduces the hepatocytic synthesis of cholesterol.

Immunotropic Effects and Proposed Mechanism of Action for 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)

Inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase (statins) are the major group of lipid-lowering drugs. Along with hypocholesterolemic activity, statins exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that expand their clinical use, particularly, in the treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. In this review, we critically analyze the data of statin effects on immune cells (e.g., monocytes and T cells) involved in the development of atherosclerosis and other chronic inflammatory diseases. We (i) discuss the properties of statins and routes of cell entry, as well as their major intracellular targets; (ii) evaluate the data on the effects of statins on the subset composition of circulatory monocytes, ability of monocytes to migrate to the site of inflammation (cell motility and expression of adhesion molecules and chemokine receptors), production of cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and reactive oxygen species by monocytes/macrophages, and antigen-presenting activity in peripheral blood monocyte-derived dendritic cells; and (iii) summarize the data on the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of various CD4+ T cell subsets (type 1/2/17 helper T cells and regulatory T cells) by statins.

Could simvastatin be considered as a potential therapy for chronic lung diseases? A debate on the pros and cons

INTRODUCTION

Simvastatin (SV) is a drug from the statin class, currently used orally as an anti-cholesterolemic drug. It inhibits the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-Coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase to reduce cholesterol synthesis. Recently, it has been found that SV also has several other protective pharmacological actions unrelated to its anti-cholesterol effects that might be beneficial in the treatment of chronic airway diseases.

AREAS COVERED

This review summarizes the evidence relating to SV as a potential anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and muco-inhibitory agent, administered both orally and via pulmonary inhalation, and discusses its pro and cons. Evidence could potentially be used to support the delivery of SV as inhaled formulation for the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases.

EXPERT OPINION

The use of SV as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and muco-inhibitory agent for drug delivery to the lung is promising. Inhaled SV formulations could allow the delivery profile to be customized and optimized to take advantage of the rapid onset of action, low systemic side effect and improved physico-chemical stability. This treatment could potentially to be used clinically for the localized treatment of lung diseases where inflammation and oxidative stress production is present.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: patho-physiology, current methods of treatment and the potential for simvastatin in disease management

INTRODUCTION

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a severe disease that leads to a non-reversible obstruction of the small airways. The prevalence of this disease is rapidly increasing in developed countries, and in 2020 it has been predicted that this disease will reach the third cause of mortality worldwide. COPD patients do not respond well to current treatment modalities, such as bronchodilators and corticosteroids.

AREAS COVERED

This review article focuses on the patho-physiology of COPD, explores current approaches to alleviate and treat the disease, and discusses the potential use of statins for treatment. Specifically, the mechanism of action and metabolism of simvastatin, the most known and studied molecule among the statin family, are critically reviewed.

EXPERT OPINION

Various cellular pathways have been implicated in COPD, with alveolar macrophages emerging as pivotal inflammatory mediators in the COPD patho-physiology. Recently, emerging anti-cytokine therapies, such as PDE4 inhibitors and ACE inhibitors, have shown good anti-inflammatory properties that can be useful in COPD treatment. Recently, statins as a drug class have gained much interest with respect to COPD management, following studies which show simvastatin to exert effective anti-inflammatory effects, via inhibition of the mevalonic acid cascade in alveolar macrophages.

In-vitro release kinetics and stability of anticardiovascular drugs-intercalated layered double hydroxide nanohybrids

We report the intercalation and characterization of pravastatin and fluvastatin drugs in Mg(II)/Al(III) layered double hydroxides (LDHs) to form novel nanohybrid hydroxides through the coprecipitation technique. powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis techniques reveal that the drugs are accommodated within the brucite layers. Structural characterization, computed results, and atomic force microscopy image analysis demonstrate that the fluvastatin anions are attached with the brucite as a monolayer, whereas the pravastatin anions form a multilayer. The shift in the stretching frequency of carboxylate anion of statin drugs provides evidence that the drugs are electrostatically bonded to LDHs. X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis studies performed after keeping the nanohybrid particles at 75 +/- 10% relative humidity atmosphere, indicate their physical stability due to proper confinement of drugs within the layers. In-vitro release study of developed nanohybrid particles suggests that the significant reduction in release rate of fluvastatin anions from fluvastatin intercalated LDHs is due to its hydrophobic nature and it can be further controlled by varying the concentration in physiological medium. After release, the data were fitted to the dissolution-diffusion kinetic model. The mechanism of drugs diffusion in hydrophobic nanohybrid is probably due to heterogeneous diffusion via anion exchange, while in a hydrophilic nanohybrid, it is due to intraparticle diffusion via anion exchange with the anions in the physiological medium.