Lovastatin is a prodrug, an inactive lactone in its native form, the gamma-lactone closed ring form in which it is administered, is hydrolysed in vivo to the β-hydroxy acid open ring form; which is the active form. Lovastatin and other statins have been studied for their chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects. No such effects were seen in the early studies. More recent investigations revealed some chemopreventive and therapeutic effects, for certain types of cancer, especially in combination of statins with other anticancer drugs. It is likely that these effect are mediated by the properties of statins to reduce proteasome activity, leading to an accumulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27, and to subsequent G1-phase arrest, as seen in cells of different cancer lines. History
Compactin and lovastatin, natural products with a powerful inhibitory effect on HMG-CoA reductase, were discovered in the 1970s, and taken into clinical development as potential drugs for lowering LDL cholesterol.In 1982, some small-scale clinical investigations of lovastatin, a polyketide-derived natural product isolated from Aspergillus terreus, in very high-risk patients were undertaken, in which dramatic reductions in LDL cholesterol were observed, with very few adverse effects. After the additional animal safety studies with lovastatin revealed no toxicity of the type thought to be associated with compactin, clinical studies continued. Large-scale trials confirmed the effectiveness of lovastatin. Observed tolerability continued to be excellent, and lovastatin was approved by the US FDA in 1987.
Hydrops-ectopic calcification-moth-eaten skeletal dysplasia is a defect in cholesterol biosynthesis. Greenberg characterized the condition in 1988.It has been associated with the lamin B receptor. Signs and Symptoms
Hydrops-ectopic calcification-moth-eaten skeletal dysplasia causes the bones in a fetus to develop abnormally. This leads to a characteristic "moth eaten" appearance of the bones when viewed under an X-ray. Micromelia, polydactyly and ectopic calcification, or the built up of calcium in the soft tissues of the body, may all occur. Eighty to ninety nine percent of effected individuals will have abnormally ossified vertebrae, abnormal pelvis bone ossification, anterior rib punctate calcifications and brachydactyly.The second defining feature of hydrops-ectopic calcification-moth-eaten skeletal dysplasia is hydrops fetalis. A condition wherein an abnormal buildup of fluids occurs in the tissues of a fetus. See also
Ectopic calcification
Hydrops

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