Testosterone influenced the expression of Notch1, Notch2 and Jagged1 induced by lipopolysaccharide in macrophages.

Testosterone plays an extensive role in modulating macrophages functions in mammals. In this study, we incubated murine bone marrow macrophages which were positive to the surface antigen F4/80 with lipopolysaccharide and increasing amounts of testosterone. Expression of Notch family members (including Notch1, Notch2 and Jagged1) was investigated at transcription and post-transcription levels through RT-PCR and Western blotting assay followed by densitometric analyses. Results showed that testosterone influenced the lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of Notch1, Notch2 and Jagged1 in macrophages. The elevated expression of Notch1 and Notch2 induced by lipopolysaccharide was repressed by testosterone at lower levels, but enhanced at higher hormone levels. In addition, the expression of Jagged1 was enhanced by various amounts of testosterone. These results suggest that testosterone affected the expression of Notch family members in activated macrophages.