Mouse BMDMs were derived from bone marrow cells of C57BL/6 mice as previously described (26 (link)). Briefly, following erythrocyte lysis, bone marrow cells were cultured in DMEM containing 10% FBS and 50 ng/ml murine macrophage colony-stimulating factor (R&D Systems) for 5 days. The differentiated cells were then split and plated for following experiments. Peritoneal macrophages were elicited in 8-week-old mice by intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml 4% Brewer thioglycollate (Sigma-Aldrich). Peritoneal cells were harvested 4 days later by lavage and plated for 2h, followed by extensive wash to remove non-adherent cells. The adherent cells were used as peritoneal macrophages. The animal protocol was approved by the University of Alabama at Birmingham Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.