Effects of hydroxysterols and atorvastatin on lipopolysaccharide-induced secretion of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-10 by mouse macrophages.

Preincubation of macrophages with atorvastatin, cholesterol, 25-, 27-hydroxycholesterol, and 7-ketocholesterol reduced the level of TNF-alpha to 10, 61, 13, 64.5, and 82%, respectively. Addition of mevalonate to the preincubation medium canceled the effects atorvastatin, cholesterol, and 7-ketocholesterol, but not the effects of 25- and 27-hydroxycholesterols. Atorvastatin increased the level of IL-10 by 41%, while 7-ketocholesterol and 25-hydroxycholesterol inhibited its secretion by 48 and 55%.