Objective: Endotoxin tolerance refers to a low response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We hypothesized that growth factor independence 1 (Gfi1) involves in the endotoxin tolerance in macrophages.
Methods: Endotoxin tolerance was induced in the RAW264.7 cell line and thioglycolate-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages by incubation with 100 ng/ml LPS for 20 h. Macrophages without the pretreatment were set as control. Both endotoxin tolerant and control cells were then stimulated with 1,000 ng/ml LPS for indicated period of incubation. Gfi1 mRNA expression and protein production were investigated by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. ELISA was performed to quantify the secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-6.
Result: Compared with non-endotoxin tolerant macrophages, endotoxin tolerant cells secreted a lower amount of TNF-alpha and IL-6. The mRNA expression of Gfi1 in endotoxin tolerant macrophages was higher than that of control in both RAW264.7 cells and thioglycolate-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages. The protein production was accordingly up-regulated in endotoxin tolerant RAW264.7 cells.
Conclusion: In in vitro endotoxin tolerant macrophages, the expression of Gfi1 mRNA and protein were up-regulated after high dose LPS stimulation, accompanied with a blunted TNF-alpha and IL-6 secretion. Gfi1 might participate in the mechanism of endotoxin tolerance.