tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37623912.post735440381388515320..comments2008-11-10T13:02:32.430-05:00Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05349466286549537039[email protected]Blogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37623912.post-60340182229419154062007-10-17T18:42:00.000-04:002007-10-17T18:42:00.000-04:00Dolichol.<BR/>I posit that it is the mechanistic link between statins and the purported reduction of age- and smoking-related lung inflammation. Statins work by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, which is upstream of the path that produces cholesterol and dolichol and other good things. Dolichol is attached to proteins to help mediate intracellular trafficking and anchor sugars, and has been found to accumulate in cells over time as an indicator of aging. Given that aging is generally associated with an increased incidence of inflammation and that dolichol levels and aging are positively correlated, it stands to reason that the reduction of dolichol production with statins would result in fewer age-associated motifs that could lead to inflammation.<BR/>Statins are pretty. There's a picture of mevastatin interacting with the LDL receptor out there somewhere that I had set as my desktop wallpaper for a long time at one point.Toaster Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10388782618295656406[email protected]tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37623912.post-15644374214187447532007-10-17T05:48:00.000-04:002007-10-17T05:48:00.000-04:00Phthalates have been established as a cause of testicular atrophy for a long time; so watch where you put that paint soaked rag guys!Ian[email protected]