A novel therapeutic effect of statins on nephrogenic diabetes insipidus |
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Authors: | David Q.‐H. Wang Maria Svelto Piero Portincasa |
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Affiliation: | 1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA;2. Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy;3. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Internal Medicine, University Medical School, Bari, Italy |
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Abstract: | Statins competitively inhibit hepatic 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzyme A reductase, resulting in reduced plasma total and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Recently, it has been shown that statins exert additional ‘pleiotropic’ effects by increasing expression levels of the membrane water channels aquaporin 2 (AQP2). AQP2 is localized mainly in the kidney and plays a critical role in determining cellular water content. This additional effect is independent of cholesterol homoeostasis, and depends on depletion of mevalonate‐derived intermediates of sterol synthetic pathways, i.e. farnesylpyrophosphate and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate. By up‐regulating the expression levels of AQP2, statins increase water reabsorption by the kidney, thus opening up a new avenue in treating patients with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), a hereditary disease that yet lacks high‐powered and limited side effects therapy. Aspects related to water balance determined by AQP2 in the kidney, as well as standard and novel therapeutic strategies of NDI are discussed. |
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Keywords: | apical membrane aquaporin cholesterol‐lowering drugs hypercholesterolaemia HMG‐CoA kidney nephrogenic diabetes insipidus vasopressin water channels |
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