Activation of NF-kB and ERK1/2 after permanent focal ischemia is abolished by simvastatin treatment.
We investigated the effects of simvastatin treatment on the expression of IL-1beta and MCP-1, the activity of NF-kB, and the signaling pathways related to NF-kB activation in a rat model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). IL-1beta and MCP-1 expression, determined using RT-PCR, was enhanced by pMCAO; this effect was inhibited by the administration of simvastatin before ischemia. Pre-treatment with simvastatin abolished the ischemia-induced activation of NF-kB observed in vehicle-treated animals. The evaluation of signal transduction pathways, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), SAPK/JNK 46/54 and p38, indicated that only ERK1/2 phosphorylation was enhanced by ischemia, and this activation was prevented by simvastatin. ERK1/2-inhibitor, U0126, reduced brain ischemia but not cytokine induction. These results provide evidence that the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor induces its effect in the protection of ischemic brain damage with a more complex mechanism which also involve anti-inflammatory properties rather than simple inhibition of ERK1/2 signaling pathway.
Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, I-20133 Milan, Italy. luigi.sironi@unmi.it
Luigi
L
Sironi
Cristina
C
Banfi
Maura
M
Brioschi
Paolo
P
Gelosa
Uliano
U
Guerrini
Elena
E
Nobili
Anita
A
Gianella
Rodolfo
R
Paoletti
Elena
E
Tremoli
Mauro
M
Cimino
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
C491766:Ccl2 protein, rat; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D016328:NF-kappa B; D019821:Simvastatin; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3