Fentanyl pretreatment suppressed the LPS-induced elevation of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-10 in BV-2 cells. IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-10 protein levels in BV-2 cells were assessed using ELISA kits. Cells were either untreated, or treated with 5 µmol/l fentanyl, 1 µg/ml LPS or fentanyl followed by LPS. ***P<0.001 vs. control group; ##P<0.01 vs. LPS group. Ctrl, control; IL, interleukin; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; LPS, lipopolysaccharide.