[Statins in cardiovascular disease. Role of Rho/Rho kinase inhibition and of Akt activation ].

Statins are widely used in clinical practice because they are effective in the prevention of cardiovascular events. Most likely, these beneficial effects are due not only to an improved lipid profile bud also to direct vascular actions. Statins inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, which is a rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate-cholesterol pathway. Activation of this pathway leeds to the production of intermediates such is all-trans geranyl-geranyl pyrophosphate. This intermediate activates Rho by post-translational modification, a process of which is inhibited by statins. Recent findings on statin-induced inhibition of Rho/Rho-kinase and activation of Akt provide new insights into the protective action of statins in acute coronary syndromes.