Abstract: AIM: To study the protective effect and mechanism of rosuvastatin on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.  METHODS: (1) Cerebral infarction and OGD/R cell models were established to detect the effects of different concentrations of rosuvastatin on cell proliferation and apoptosis; (2) Different concentrations of rosuvastatin were used to treat OGD/R cell models and to observe rosuvastatin effects on cell morphology and expression and localization of UCP2-SIRT3 in cells; (3) UCP2 silent cell line was constructed to observe cell mitochondrial morphology and expression and localization of TOMM20 and SIRT3 molecules in cells, and to study the channels and mechanisms that play a protective role of rosuvastatin in OGD/R cell model; (4) The mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial gene PGC1, Drp1 and Opa1 expression were detected to study the protective effect of rosuvastatin on mitochondria. RESULTS: (1) Rosuvastatin of different concentrations could significantly reduce OGD/R cell apoptosis and increase cell survival rate; (2) Rosuvastatin exerted cell protection by affecting the expression of UCP2 and SIRT3 in cells, thereby protecting cells from OGD/R injury; (3) Rosuvastatin affected the expression of TOMM20 by regulating UCP2, increased mitochondrial transmembrane transport and energy metabolism, enhanced mitochondrial function, and improved cell state and reduced apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Rosuvastatin inhibits mitochondrial damage of OGD/R cells by regulating UCP2/SIRT pathway, thereby exerting neuron protection.

Key words: rosuvastatin, UCP2, SIRT3, OGD/R, ischemia-reperfusion