On the immunoregulatory role of statins in multiple sclerosis: the effects on Th17 cells

Statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs, also possess immunomodulatory properties, affecting among others T cell activation and differentiation, antigen presentation, and regulatory T cell (Tregs) maintenance and differentiation. Their effects on autoagression have led investigators to assess their clinical significance in autoimmune disease, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic progressive demyelinating disease of autoimmune nature. The dysregulated immunity noted in MS features a profound shift from Tregs dominance to Th17 cell superiority. In this review, we discuss the immunobiological basis of statins, their role in autoimmunity related to MS, and the data from experimental models and human studies on their effect on Th17 cells.