Pravastatin

**Semantic type:** Organic Chemical|Pharmacologic Substance

**Definition:** A synthetic lipid-lowering agent. Pravastatin competitively inhibits hepatic hydroxymethyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a key step in cholesterol synthesis. Pravastatin lowers plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein levels, and modulates immune responses by suppressing MHC II (major histocompatibility complex II) on interferon gamma-stimulated, antigen-presenting cells such as human vascular endothelial cells. (NCI04)

**Synonyms:** - PRAVASTATIN - [1S-[1alpha(betaS*,deltaS*),2alpha,6alpha,8beta(R*),8aalpha]]-1,2,6,7,8,8a-Hexahydro-beta,!d,6-trihydroxy-2-methyl-8-(2-methyl-1-oxobutoxy)-1-naphthaleneheptanoic Acid - pravastatin