LPS induced release of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in EDTA or heparin anticoagulated whole blood from persons with high or low levels of serum HDL

Abstract

We have examined the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced release of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8 and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), in EDTA or heparin anticoagulated whole blood, from persons with high or low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL), incubated at 37°C for up to 20 h. In general, 100 ng LPS/ml gave two to twenty times higher responses than 1 ng LPS/ml, and heparin ten to hundred times higher than EDTA. The release of IL-8 was significantly higher in persons with high HDL, and was correlated with HDL, and inversely correlated with triglycerides and sCD14. The release of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α was correlated with total cholesterol at medium doses of LPS (100 ng/ml), and inversely correlated with lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) at low doses of LPS (1 ng/ml). Serum levels of LBP were higher in persons with HDL, although not significantly. These results show LPS responsiveness of pro-inflammatory cytokines in whole blood from persons with high and low levels of HDL to be different, presumably of importance in inflammation and atherogenesis.