3 research outputs found
Endotoxin Tolerance Acquisition and Altered Hepatic Fatty Acid Profile in Aged Mice
(1) Background: Aging is linked to an altered immune response and metabolism. Inflammatory conditions, such as sepsis, COVID-19, and steatohepatitis are more prevalent in the elderly
and steatosis is linked both to severe COVID-19 and sepsis. We hypothesized that aging is linked to a
loss of endotoxin tolerance, which normally protects the host from excessive inflammation, and that
this is accompanied by elevated levels of hepatic lipids. (2) Methods: An in vivo lipopolysaccharide
(LPS) tolerance model in young and old mice was used and the cytokine serum levels were measured
by ELISA. Cytokine and toll-like receptor gene expression was determined by qPCR in the lungs
and the liver; hepatic fatty acid composition was assessed by GC–MS. (3) Results: The old mice
showed a distinct potential for endotoxin tolerance as suggested by the serum cytokine levels and
gene expression in the lung tissue. Endotoxin tolerance was less pronounced in the livers of the aged
mice. However, the fatty acid composition strongly differed in the liver tissues of the young and
old mice with a distinct change in the ratio of C18 to C16 fatty acids. (4) Conclusions: Endotoxin
tolerance is maintained in advanced age, but changes in the metabolic tissue homeostasis may lead to
an altered immune response in old individuals