Lovastatin induces neuroprotection by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines in 6-hydroxydopamine treated microglia cells.

PURPOSE/AIM This study aims to investigate the impact of lovastatin on neuroinflammation in 6-OHDA-treated microglia cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-treated microglia cells were used to investigate the neuroprotective nature of lovastatin. After incubation with 6-OHDA and/or lovastatin for 24 h, test kits were used to detect the levels of LDH and glutamate, which were released from PC12 cells exposed to different culture media. The mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were determined by RT-PCR and the protein levels were analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS LDH and glutamate levels in 6-OHDA-incubated PC12 cells increased, when compared with those in the controls, while incubation with lovastatin inhibited this elevation. The expression levels of TNF-α IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly upregulated after treatment with 6-OHDA. The 6-OHDA-stimulated mRNA and protein levels of TNF-α IL-6 and IL-1β were reduced by lovastatin. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that Lovastatin is able to induce neuroprotection by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines. The data provide direct evidence of the potential application of lovastatin for the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases.