Endotoxin tolerance in rats: expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, VCAM-1 AND HSP 70 in lung and liver during endotoxin shock.

Endotoxin can induce a state of tolerance against its own pathological effects, commonly referred to as endotoxin tolerance. This phenomenon has been found to be associated with reduced serum levels of cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-10. In the present study the expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, the adhesion molecule VCAM-1 and the heat shock protein 70 was determined in vivo in lung and liver of LPS-tolerant and naive rats by means of semiquantitative RT-PCR after i.v. LPS injection. TNFalpha, IL-6, IL-10, HSP 70 and VCAM-1 were induced in lung and liver after LPS injection. In liver and lung of endotoxin-tolerant rats TNF-alpha and IL-6 were induced to a lower degree after LPS treatment when compared to non-tolerant controls. The LPS-induced IL-10 expression was also slightly attenuated in the lung of tolerant rats, but in the liver no differences between tolerant and non-tolerant animals were observed. HSP 70 and VCAM-1 were expressed after systemic LPS treatment in liver and lung. The degree of induction, however, was the same in tolerant and untreated controls. The presented data show that endotoxin tolerance is reflected by a reduced cytokine expression in lung and liver in vivo. On the other hand, levels of expression of the adhesion molecule VCAM-1 and the stress protein HSP 70 do not appear to be changed by endotoxin tolerance. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.