HMG-CoA reductase promotes protein prenylation and therefore is indispensible for T-cell survival.

ABSTRACT: Statins are a well-established family of drugs that lower cholesterol levels via the competitive inhibition of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR). In addition, the pleiotropic anti-inflammatory effects of statins on T cells make them attractive as therapeutic drugs in T-cell-driven autoimmune disorders. Since statins do not exclusively target HMGCR and thus might have varying effects on different cell types, we generated a new mouse strain allowing for the tissue-specific deletion of HMGCR. Deletion of HMGCR expression in T cells led to a severe decrease in their numbers with the remaining cells displaying an activated phenotype, with an increased proportion of regulatory T cells (T_regs) in particular. However, deletion of HMGCR specifically in T<

SUBMITTER: Lacher SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5520735 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature