In vitro and in vivo effects of genistein on murine alveolar macrophage TNFα production

The present study was performed to determine whether genistein could inhibit in vivo LPS-induced alveolar macrophage TNFα production and thus reduce the alveolar neutrophil influx following LPS. In vitro incubation with genistein completely inhibited LPS-induced TNFα production by alveolar macrophages (AM) from BALB/c mice. Subsequently mice were pretreated with intraperitoneal genistein or vehicle, then received nasal LPS to induce an alveolitis. Genistein was then administered every eight hours for five days following LPS. At 24 hours after LPS, the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) TNFα and ex vivo TNFα production from AM, were lower in the genistein treated animals. As well, total BAL white blood cell (WBC) count was reduced in the genistein as compared to the vehicle-only group. The percent neutrophils and the resolution of neutrophils were similar between genistein and vehicle groups. Therefore, genistein was able to decrease AM TNFα production, and was associated with a decrease in BAL WBC count post-LPS.