ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the signaling pathways associated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in islet micro-endothelial cells (IMECs) and the mechanism of pravastatin intervention.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>IMECs exposed to LPS, SB203580, pravastatin, or SB203580+pravastatin were examined for cell apoptosis with Hoechst staining and flow cytometry and for expression levels of total-p38, photophosphorylation-p38 (p-p38) and iNOS with Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The apoptosis rate and expression levels of total-p38, p-p38, iNOS in IMECs all increased after LPS exposure. Pravastatin, SB203580, and their combination significantly attenuated LPS-induced enhancement of cell apoptosis and total-p38, p-p38, and iNOS expressions in IMECs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LPS-induced inflammatory toxicity in IMECs is associated with the activation of P38MAPK and iNOS/NO signaling pathways. Pravastatin can inhibit these pathways and suppress the apoptosis and necrosis of IMECs to relieve the cell inflammatory injuries.</p>