Researchers Identify Mechanism Behind Statin-Induced Muscle Pain, Paving Way for Safer Drugs
Researchers at the University of British Columbia, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, have discovered the biological mechanism by which statins, a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs, cause muscle pain. The study, published in Nature Communications, utilized cryo-electron microscopy to observe how statins interact with the ryanodine receptor (RyR1), a key muscle protein. This receptor regulates calcium flow in muscle cells, and when statins bind to it, they force the channel open, causing continuous calcium leakage. This leakage can damage muscle fibers, leading to symptoms such as soreness, weakness, and in severe cases, muscle breakdown that can harm the kidneys. The research focused on atorvastatin, a commonly used statin, but the findings suggest similar effects could occur with other statins. 
