Chronic Estradiol Administration In Vivo Promotes the Proinflammatory Response of Macrophages to TLR4 Activation: Involvement of the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Pathway

Short-term exposure to 17β-estradiol (E2) in vitro has been reported to decrease the production of proinflammatory cytokines by LPS-activated macrophages through estrogen receptor α (ERα)-dependent activation of the PI3K pathway. In the present study, we confirm that in vitro exposure of mouse peritoneal macrophages to E2 enhanced Akt phosphorylation and slightly decreased LPS-induced cytokine production. In striking contrast, we show that...