3α-Hydroxy pravastatin sodium is a major metabolite of the lipid-lowering drug Pravastatin. Pravastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase
inhibitor against sterol synthesis with IC50 of 5.6 μM. It is natural
product isolated from cultures of Nocardia autotrophica. Pravastatin
competitively inhibits hepatic hydroxymethyl-glutaryl coenzyme A
reductase, the enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to
mevalonate, a key step in cholesterol synthesis. This agent lowers
plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein levels, and modulates immune
responses by suppressing MHC II on interferon gamma-stimulated,
antigen-presenting cells such as human vascular endothelial cells.