To compare microglial responses to alcohol to those elicited by an inflammatory stimulus, we carried out RNAseq on RNA from TII-treated microglia. In contrast to alcohol, there was a dramatic alteration in mRNA expression due to this robust stimulus. Using the same criteria (P values adjusted for an FDR of < 0.1%), we identified 3082 mRNAs modified by TII (“TII-DEs”; Additional file 1: Table S2). Of those, 1266 were changed by over 50%; 43 mRNAs increased over 10-fold; and 21 decreased by at least 10-fold. To determine how alcohol influences microglial gene expression in the context of inflammation, we carried out RNAseq of mRNA from cells treated with TII together with ethanol. A total of 3552 mRNAs were identified (“AlcTII-DEs”, Additional file 1: Table S3), slightly more than that due to TII alone. Of those, 1432 were changed by over 50%, 53 mRNAs were increased over 10-fold, and 25 were decreased by at least 10-fold.
