LPS INDUCED RELEASE OF IL-1-BETA, IL-6, IL-8 AND TNF-ALPHA IN EDTA ORHEPARIN ANTICOAGULATED WHOLE-BLOOD FROM PERSONS WITH HIGH OR LOW-LEVELS OF SERUM HDL

We have examined the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced release of inter leukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-6, IL-8 and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), in EDTA or heparin anticoagulated whole blood, from pers ons with high or low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL), incubat ed at 37 degrees 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,vith high HDL, and was correlated with HDL, and inve rsely correlated with triglycerides and sCD14, The release of IL-1 bet a, IL-6 and TNF-alpha was correlated with total cholesterol at medium doses of LPS (100 ng/ml), and inversely correlated with lipopolysaccha ride-binding protein (LBP) at low doses of LPS (1 ng/ml), Serum levels of LBP were higher in persons with HDL, although not significantly, T hese results show LPS responsiveness of pro-inflammatory cytokines in whole blood from persons with high and low levels of HDL to be differe nt, presumably of importance in inflammation and atherogenesis. (C) 19 96 Academic Press Limited