Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of atorvastatin on the inflammation in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced type I diabetic rats.MethodsDiabetes mellitus was induced in 8 weeks old male Sprague Dawley(SD)rats by two times intraperitoneal injection of STZ.Low dose of atorvastatin,which had no effects on the serum lipid profile,were administered to diabetic rats.Fasting plasma glucose and serum concentrations of triglyceride,total cholesterol,low density and high density lipoprotein,tumour necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),C-reaction protein(CRP)and interleukin 1β(IL-1β)were measured.In aortic tissue,the expression of TNF-α,IL-1β,vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1)and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1)mRNA were analyzed respectively.ResultsThe levels of serum TNF-α,CRP and IL-1β in STZ-induced type I diabetic SD rats(SD-STZ)group were 2.118±0.153 μg/L,2.857±1.032 mg/L and 0.2347±0.1264 μg/L respectively,which were higher than those of SD control(SD-Co)group(P<0.05).In aortic tissue,the expression of TNF-α,IL-1β,VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA were significantly upregulated compared to SD-Co group(P<0.05).After atorvastatin administration,the levels of serum TNF-α,CRP and IL-1βwere greatly decreased which were 1.602±0.145 μg/L,2.263±0.691 mg/L and 0.156 5±0.037 μg/L,respectively.The expressions of TNF-α,IL-1β,VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA in aortic tissue were significantly downregulated compared to SD-STZ group(P<0.05).ConclusionLow dose of atorvastatin inhibits the inflammation in STZ-induced type I diabetic rats.Anti-inflammatory effects is not related to the cholesterol-lowering action of atorvastatin.