Pravastatin suppresses the interleukin‐8 production induced by thrombin in human aortic endothelial cells cultured with high glucose by inhibiting the p44/42 mitogen activated protein kinase

3‐Hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl co‐enzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) prevent the progression of atherosclerosis by lowering cholesterol. However, the effect of statins on the synthesis of pro‐inflammatory cytokines from endothelial cells has not yet been fully investigated. Here, we examined the effect of pravastatin, one of the statins, on IL‐8 synthesis induced by thrombin in human aortic endothelial cells (AoEC) cultured with high glucose concentrations. Pravastatin significantly decreased the IL‐8 synthesis induced by thrombin. Pravastatin inhibited the p44/42 MAP kinase activity induced by thrombin, but did not inhibit the p38 MAP kinase activity. Translocation of ras protein from the cytosol to plasma membrane was inhibited by pravastatin. Pravastatin inhibit the activator protein‐1 activity, but did not inhibit the activation of IκB‐α. Dominant negative ras inhibited the p44/42 MAP kinase activity induced by PMA. Our results suggest that pravastatin inhibits IL‐8 synthesis by blocking the ras ‐MAP (p44/42) kinase pathway rather than nuclear factor‐κB. Pravastatin may prevent atherosclerosis not only by lowering cholesterol levels, but also by suppressing IL‐8 synthesis in AoEC through the inhibition of p44/42 MAP kinase, and this may be more beneficial in diabetic patients than in non‐diabetics.British Journal of Pharmacology (2001) 134 , 753–762; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704305