Effect of Statins on Platelet Activation and Function: From Molecular Pathways to Clinical Effects.
BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021;
2021:6661847. [PMID:
33564680 PMCID:
PMC7850835 DOI:
10.1155/2021/6661847]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
Statins are a class of drugs widely used in clinical practice for their lipid-lowering and pleiotropic effects. In recent years, a correlation between statins and platelet function has been unveiled in the literature that might introduce new therapeutic indications for this class of drugs. This review is aimed at summarizing the mechanisms underlying statin-platelet interaction in the cardiologic scenario and building the basis for future in-depth studies.
Methods
We conducted a literature search through PubMed, Embase, EBSCO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Web of Science from their inception to June 2020.
Results
Many pathways could explain the interaction between statins and platelets, but the specific effect depends on the specific compound. Some could be mediated by enzymes that allow the entry of drugs into the cell (OATP2B1) and others by enzymes that mediate their activation (PLA2, MAPK, TAX2, PPARs, AKT, and COX-1), recruitment and adhesion (LOX-1, CD36, and CD40L), or apoptosis (BCL2). Statins also appear to have a synergistic effect with aspirin and low molecular weight heparins. Surprisingly, they seem to have an antagonistic effect with clopidogrel.
Conclusion
There are many pathways potentially responsible for the interactions between statins and platelets. Their effect appears to be closely related, and each single effect can be barely measured. Also, the same compound might have complex downstream signaling with potentially opposite effects, i.e., beneficial or deleterious. The multiple clinical implications that can be derived as a result of this interaction, however, represent an excellent reason to develop future in-depth studies.
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