Heterotrimeric Gi proteins play a role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA) activated signaling leading to inflammatory mediator production. We hypothesized that genetic deletion of Gi proteins would alter cytokine and chemokine production induced by LPS and SA. LPS- and heat killed SA-induced cytokine and chemokine production in splenocytes from wild type (WT), Gαi2 (-/-) or Gαi1/3 (-/-) mice were investigated. LPS- or SA-induced production of TNFα, IL-6, IFNγ, IL-12, IL-17, GM-CSF, MIP-1α, MCP-1, MIG and IP-10 were significantly increased (1.2 to 33 fold, p < 0.05) in splenocytes harvested from Gαi2(-/-) mice compared with WT mice. The effect of Gαi protein depletion was remarkably isoform specific. In splenocytes from Gαi1/3 (-/-) mice relative to WT mice, SA-induced IL-6, IFNγ, GM-CSF, and IP-10 levels were decreased (59% to 86%, p < 0.05), whereas other LPS- or SA-stimulated cytokines and chemokines were not different relative to WT mice. LPS- and SA-induced production of KC were unchanged in both groups of the genetic deficient mice. Splenocytes from both Gαi2 (-/-) and Gαi1/3 (-/-) mice did not exhibit changes in TLR2 and TLR4 expression. Also analysis of splenic cellular composition by flow cytometry demonstrated an increase in splenic macrophages and reduced CD4 T cells in both Gαi2 (-/-) and Gαi1/3 (-/-) mice relative to WT mice. The disparate response of splenocytes from the Gαi2 (-/-) relative to Gαi1/3 (-/-) mice therefore cannot be attributed to major differences in spleen cellular composition. These data demonstrate that Gi2 and Gi1/3 proteins are both involved and differentially regulate splenocyte inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production in a highly Gi isoform specific manner in response to LPS and Gram-positive microbial stimuli.

Heterotrimeric Gi proteins play a role in signalling activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and group B streptococci (GBS), leading to production of inflammatory mediators. We hypothesized that genetic deletion of Gi proteins would alter cytokine and chemokine production induced by LPS, SA and GBS stimulation. LPS-induced, heat-killed SA-induced and heat-killed GBS-induced cytokine and chemokine production in peritoneal macrophages from wild-type (WT), Gαi2-/- or Gαi1/3-/- mice were investigated. LPS induced production of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10 and interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10); SA induced TNF-α, and IL-1β production; and GBS induced TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) and keratinocyte chemoattract (KC) production were all decreased (P < 0.05) in Gαi2-/- or Gαi1/3-/- mice compared with WT mice. In contrast to the role of Gi proteins as a positive regulator of mediators, LPS-induced production of MIP-1α and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were increased in macrophages from Gαi1/3-/- mice, and SA-induced MIP-1α production was increased in both groups of Gαi protein-depleted mice. LPS-induced production of KC and IL-1β, SA-induced production of GM-CSF, KC and IP-10, and GBS-induced production of IL-10, GM-CSF and IP-10 were unchanged in macrophages from Gαi2-/- or Gαi1/3-/- mice compared with WT mice. These data suggest that Gi2 and Gi1/3 proteins are both involved and differentially regulate murine inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production in response to both LPS and Gram-positive microbial stimuli.