LPS-induced release of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha and sCD14 in whole blood and PBMC from persons with high or low levels of HDL-lipoprotein.

We have examined basal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) in whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 20 persons with either high (1.62-2.47 mmol/L) or low (0.43-1.29 mmol/L) levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Whole blood was incubated at 37 degrees C for 2 h with 100 ng LPS/ml, while PBMC were incubated with 100 ng LPS/ml for up to 160 h. The LPS-induced release of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha into plasma showed no differences between the two HDL-groups; whereas levels of sCD14 were significantly higher in plasma in persons with low HDL (P < 0.01). PBMC incubated with LPS showed a significantly higher release of IL-1 beta (P = 0.01) and IL-6 (P = 0.02) in persons with high HDL at all sampling times. sCD14 was found not to be released by PBMC. These findings indicate that PBMC from persons with high or low levels of HDL have different functional properties, possibly of importance in inflammation and atherogenesis.