Simvastatin suppresses cerebral aneurysm in rats through suppression of release of pro-inflammatory cytokines

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of simvastatin (SA) against onset of cerebral aneurysm mediated inflammatory cytokine release and subsequent inflammation and degradation of the extracellular matrix of smooth muscle cells. Methods: Cerebral aneurysm was induced in male Wistar rats using elastase injection, and aneurysm growth was monitored for one month following SA treatment. Inhibition of aneurysm growth was determined along with the expression levels of chemokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-alpha, IL-8, IL-1 beta, IL-17, IL-6, macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Aneurysm size decreased in rats treated with SA, relative to values obtained for control rats (p < 0.05). The corresponding expressions of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were also reduced following pre-treatment with SA (p < 0.05). The results indicate a reduction in the aneurysm area in rats pre-treated with SA, when compared to the untreated animals (p < 0.05). Conclusion: SA treatment inhibits the progression of cerebral aneurysms via its protective effect against inflammation, indicating its potential for use in the prevention and treatment of cerebral aneurysms.