Neurosurgery
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Our previous studies demonstrated that simvastatin promotes neurological functional recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rat; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of simvastatin by measuring the level of cytokines and activation of glial cells. ⋯ Our data demonstrate that TBI causes inflammatory reaction, including increased levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, as well as activated microglial cells. Simvastatin selectively reduces IL-1beta expression and inhibits the activation of microglial cells and astrocytes after TBI, which might be one of the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic benefits of simvastatin treatment of TBI.