Simvastatin  (Synonyms: MK 733)

Simvastatin (MK 733) is a competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase with a K_i of 0.2 nM.

Ki: 0.2 nM (HMG-CoA reductase)^[1]

Simvastatin is an inactive drug precursor that has no drug activity itself and must be metabolized into its hydroxy acid form in the liver to function. In vitro experiments, it can be activated by sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
Simvastatin suppresses cholesterol synthesis in mouse L-M cell, rat H4II E cell, and human Hep G2 cell with IC₅₀s of 19.3 nM, 13.3 nM and 15.6 nM, respectively^[1].
Simvastatin causes a dose-dependent increase in serine 473 phosphorylation of Akt within 30 minutes, with maximal phosphorylation occurring at 1.0 µM^[2].
Simvastatin (1.0 μM) enhances phosphorylation of the endogenous Akt substrate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inhibits serum-free media undergo apoptosis and accelerates vascular structure formation^[2].
Simvastatin shows anti-inflammatory effects, reduces anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibody-stimulated proliferation of PB-derived mononuclear cells and synovial fluid cells from rheumatoid arthritis blood, as well as IFN-γ release at 10 μM^[3].
Simvastatin (10 μM) also blocks cell-mediated macrophage TNF-γ release induced via cognate interactions by appr 30%^[3].
Simvastatin (5 μM) significantly reduces the expression of ABCA1 in astrocytes and neuroblastoma cells, the expression of apolipoprotein E in astrocytes, and increases cyclin-dependent kinase 5 and glycogen synthase kinase 3β expression in SK-N-SH cells^[7].
Simvastatin has the ability to inhibit exosome release^[10].
Simvastatin (32 and 64 μM; 24, 48, and 72 h) inhibits tumor cell growth, arrests in the G0/G1 phase^[11].
Simvastatin (32 and 64 μM; 48 h) induces apoptosis in HepG2 and Huh7 cells^[11].

MCE has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

Simvastatin suppresses the conversion of radiolabeled acetate to cholesterol with an IC₅₀ of 0.2 mg/kg via p.o. administration^[1]. Simvastatin (4 mg/day, p.o. for 13 weeks) returns the cholesterol-induced increases in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol to normal level in rabbits fed an atherogenci cholesterol-rich diet^[4].
Simvastatin (6 mg/kg) increases LDL receptor-dependent binding and the number of hepatic LDL receptors in rabbits fed a diet containing 0.25% cholesterol^[5].
Simvastatin (20 mg/kg/day) causes a 1.3-fold less macrophage content in lesions, and 2-fold less vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, interleukin-1beta, and tissue factor expression, companied by a 2.1-fold increases in lesional smooth muscle cell and collagen content in cynomolgus monkeys fed an atherogenic diet^[6].
Simvastatin (oral gavage; 15 and 30 mg/kg; once daily; 14 d) treatment attenuats oxidative damage, TNF-a and IL-6 levels, and restores itochondrial enzyme complex activities^[12].

MCE has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

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Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere.

• [1]. Slater, E.E., et al. Mechanism of action and biological profile of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors. A new therapeutic alternative. Drugs, 1988. 36 Suppl 3: p. 72-82.  [Content Brief]

  [2]. Kureishi, Y., et al. The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin activates the protein kinase Akt and promotes angiogenesis in normocholesterolemic animals. Nat Med, 2000. 6(9): p. 1004-10.  [Content Brief]

  [3]. Leung BP, et al. A novel anti-inflammatory role for simvastatin in inflammatory arthritis. J Immunol. 2003 Feb 1;170(3):1524-30.  [Content Brief]

  [4]. Kobayashi M, et al. Preventive effect of MK-733 (simvastatin), an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, on hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis induced by cholesterol feeding in rabbits. Jpn J Pharmacol. 1989 Jan;49(1):125-33.  [Content Brief]

  [5]. Ishida F, et al. Comparative effects of simvastatin (MK-733) and CS-514 on hypercholesterolemia induced by cholesterol feeding in rabbits. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1990 Feb 23;1042(3):365-73.  [Content Brief]

  [6]. Sukhova GK, et al. Statins reduce inflammation in atheroma of nonhuman primates independent of effects on serum cholesterol. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2002 Sep 1;22(9):1452-8.  [Content Brief]

  [7]. Weijiang Dong, et al. Differential effects of simvastatin and CS-514 on expression of Alzheimer’s disease-related genes in human astrocytes and neuronal cells. J Lipid Res. 2009 Oct; 50(10): 2095-2102.

  [8]. Liu Z, et al. Pretreatment Donors after Circulatory Death with Simvastatin Alleviates Liver Ischemia Reperfusion Injury through a KLF2-Dependent Mechanism in Rat. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017;2017:3861914.  [Content Brief]

  [9]. Ifergan I, et al. Statins reduce human blood-brain barrier permeability and restrict leukocyte migration: relevance to multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol. 2006 Jul;60(1):45-55.  [Content Brief]

  [10]. Zhang H, et al. Advances in the discovery of exosome inhibitors in cancer. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2020;35(1):1322-1330.  [Content Brief]

  [11]. Borna Relja, et al. Simvastatin inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in hepatic cancer cells. Int J Mol Med. 2010 Nov;26(5):735-41.  [Content Brief]

  [12]. Anil Kumar, et al. Neuroprotective potential of atorvastatin and simvastatin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced Parkinson-like symptoms. Brain Res. 2012 Aug 30;1471:13-22.  [Content Brief]