Interaction of different statins with model membranes by NMR data.

Hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors or statins reduce the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is known as a well-established risk factor for atherosclerosis. Despite the fact that statins have a common pharmacologic target essential to sterol biosynthesis, their efficacy, safety, and potential non-LDL actions vary significantly for different statins. There is a hypothesis that pharmacological features of statins depend on their location in cell membrane, but to the present day there is a lack of information in literature on interactions of statins with the surface of the cell membrane in liquid media. The results of NMR experiments showed that all studied statins form intermolecular complexes with models of cell membranes (dodecylphosphocholine micelles) in water solution. Locations of pravastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin and cerivastatin on model membranes were established by NOESY NMR data. Distinctions in their positions can explain differences in pharmacological properties of studied compounds.