Effect of Simvastatin Therapy on Cell Membrane Cholesterol Content and Membrane Function as Assessed by Polymorphonuclear Cell NADPH Oxidase Activity

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Abstract
Cell membrane cholesterol is an important determinant of membrane fluidity. Changes in fluidity have important consequences for membrane function. Treatment of hypercholesterolaemia could therefore affect membrane function by reducing cell membrane cholesterol levels. The aim of this study was to determine whether treatment with simvastatin affects membrane cholesterol and the activity of the polymorphonuclear cell membrane enzyme NADPH oxidase. Blood was obtained from 12 hypercholesterolaemic patients before, and 6 weeks after, treatment with simvastatin, and from 20 normolipidaemic subjects. Cell cholesterol was in the unesterified form indicating that it was membrane-associated. Pretreatment mean cell cholesterol concentration in the hyperlipidaemics was higher ( ps = 0·76, Ps = 0·61, P<0·05) between the reductions in cell cholesterol and lag phase.