McMaster statin muscle side-effect pathway discovery

Researchers at McMaster University, led by senior author Jonathan Schertzer and first authors Nazli Robin and Nicole Barra, published a study in Science Advances identifying a biological pathway that may explain statin-induced muscle pain and weakness. The team found that statins disrupt muscle cell energy production, which triggers an immune response (involving NLRP3) that damages muscle tissue. Blocking this immune response in muscle cells and mouse models prevented much of the damage. Importantly, the mechanism appears separate from the cholesterol-lowering effect, suggesting future therapies could target side effects without reducing cardiovascular benefits. The study involved international collaborators from institutions in France, Australia, and Canada, and was funded by the Canada — Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada of Canada (NSERC).