Simvastatin alters M1/M2 polarization of murine BV2 microglia via Notch signaling.

Microglia play a critical role in the regulation of CNS immune function, which can be greatly affected by M1/M2 polarization. The role of Notch signaling in Statins induced alteration of M1/M2 polarization in BV2 cells was assessed in this study. M1 markers in LPS and Jagged-1 treated group were significantly increased and such increase was attenuated by simvastatin; however, M2 markers were enhanced. Moreover, simvastatin enhance the expression of Notch signaling molecules, and its regulatory effects were blocked in Notch1 knocked down cells. In conclusion, these findings indicated that simvastatin alters M1/M2 polarization of murine BV2 microglia via Notch signaling.