Figure 5

Simvastatin attenuated VILI-associated pulmonary cytokine production. Simvastatin (6 h Vent. + Simva) or sham treated mice (6 h Vent.) subjected to 6 h of mechanical ventilation, and non-ventilated sham (NV) or simvastatin (NV + Simva) treated mice were sacrificed. Cytokine levels in homogenized lung tissue were quantified. MV evoked an increase of pulmonary cytokines. Simvastatin treatment limited VILI associated production of IL-1β, MIP-1α and IL-12p40. (n = 8 each group; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001). (b.t., below threshold).