Simvastatin inhibits the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins by activated human monocyte-derived macrophages.

Human monocyte-derived macrophages treated with increasing concentrations of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, simvastatin, showed a dose-dependent decrease in superoxide formation in response to activation by phorbol myristate acetate. As a consequence, they oxidized LDL much less than untreated cells. Addition of exogenous mevalonic acid to simvastatin-treated macrophages restored their ability for superoxide production and for oxidative modification of LDL. These results indicate that simvastatin might prevent atherosclerosis by additional mechanisms besides its hypocholesterolemic activity.