The present study demonstrates the effect of fibrates, agonists of PPARՁ on cytokines-induced proliferation in primary cultured astrocytes. Alone or combination treatment with cytokines, such as IL-1Ղ (10 ng/ml), IFNՃ (10 ng/ml), and TNF-Ձ (10 ng/ml) cause a significant increase of cell proliferation in a time-dependent manner. Treatment of astrocytes with bezafibrate and fenofibrate (0, 5, and 10 ՌM) reduced the IFNՃ and IL-1Ղ-induced cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. To address the involvement of IL-6 on the IFNՃ and IL-1Ղ-induced cell proliferation, released IL-6 level was measured. IFNՃ and IL-1Ղ cause an increase of released IL-6 protein level in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, pretreatment with IL-6 antibody (0, 0.1, 1, 2.5, and 5 ng/ml) dose-dependently inhibited the IFNՃ and IL-1Ղ-induced cell proliferation. However, bezafibrate and fenofibrate did not affect increased mRNA and protein levels of IL-6 in IFNՃ and IL-1Ղ-stimulated astrocytes. Taken together, these results clearly suggest that activation of PPARՁ attenuates the IFNՃ and IL-1Ղ-induced cell proliferation through IL-6 independent pathway.