17beta-estradiol- and lipopolysaccharide-induced changes in nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor release from RAW 264.7 macrophages.

The present study investigated the effect of 17beta-estradiol (17betaE(2)) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the release and expression of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. The cells were pre-incubated with 17betaE(2) at physiological as well as supraphysiological concentrations (12.5-1000 pg/ml) and subsequently activated with LPS (100 ng/ml). The changes in NO, TNF-alpha and VEGF release into culture medium and also their gene expression in cells were assessed. A concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of 17betaE(2) on NO and TNFalpha release was observed at low physiological concentrations, whereas the VEGF gene expression and protein levels were upregulated by 17betaE(2) in RAW 264.7 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]