The Structure of the Lipid A from the Halophilic Bacterium Spiribacter salinus M19-40T

The study of the adaptation mechanisms that allow microorganisms to live and proliferate in an extreme habitat is a growing research field. Directly exposed to the external environment, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria are of great appeal as they can present particular structural features that may aid the understanding of the adaptation processes. Moreover, through being involved in modulating the mammalian immune system response in a structure-dependent fashion, the elucidation of the LPS structure can also be seen as a fundamental step from a biomedical point of view. In this paper, the lipid A structure of the LPS from Spiribacter salinus M19-40^T, a halophilic gamma-proteobacteria, was characterized through chemical analyses and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. This revealed a mixture of mono- and bisphosphorylated penta- to tri-acylated species with the uncommon 2 + 3 symmetry and bearing an unusual 3-oxotetradecaonic acid.

The influence of local and systemic preconditioning on oxygenation, metabolism and survival in critically ischaemic skin flaps in pigs

Stress proteins represent a group of highly conserved intracellular proteins that provide adaptation against cellular stress. The present study aims to elucidate the stress protein-mediated effects of local hyperthermia and systemic administration of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) on oxygenation, metabolism and survival in bilateral porcine random pattern buttock flaps. Preconditioning was achieved 24h prior to surgery by applying a heating blanket on the operative site (n = 5), by intravenous administration of MPL at a dosage of 35 microg/kg body weight (n = 5) or by combining the two (n = 5). The flaps were monitored with laser Doppler flowmetry, polarographic microprobes and microdialysis until 5h postoperatively. Semiquantitative immunohistochemistry was performed for heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), heat shock protein 32 (also termed haem oxygenase-1, HO-1), and inducible nitrc oxide synthase (iNOS). The administration of MPL increased the impaired microcirculatory blood flow in the proximal part of the flap and partial oxygen tension in the the distal part by approximately 100% each (both P<0.05), whereas both variables remained virtually unaffected by local heat preconditioning. Lactate/pyruvate (L/P) ratio and glycerol concentration (representing cell membrane disintegration) in the distal part of the flap gradually increased to values of approximately 500 mmol/l and approximately 350 micromol/l, respectively (both P<0.01), which was substantially attenuated by heat application (P<0.01 for L/P ratio and P<0.05 for glycerol) and combined preconditioning (P<0.01 for both variables), whereas the effect of MPL was less marked (not significant). Flap survival was increased from 56% (untreated animals) to 65% after MPL (not significant), 71% after heat application (P<0.05) and 78% after both methods of preconditioning (P<0.01). iNOS and HO-1 were upregulated after each method of preconditioning (P<0.05), whereas augmented HSP70 staining was only observed after heat application (P<0.05). We conclude that local hyperthermia is more effective in preventing flap necrosis than systemic MPL administration because of enhancing the cellular tolerance to hypoxic stress, which is possibly mediated by HSP70, whereas some benefit may be obtained with MPL due to iNOS and HO-1-mediated improvement in tissue oxygenation.

Regulation of cementoblast function by P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide via TLR2

Although cementoblasts express Toll-like receptors (TLR)-2 and -4, little is known regarding the possible participation of cementoblasts in the inflammatory response. We investigated the effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tetra- and penta-acylated lipid A species (designated PgLPS(1435/1449) and PgLPS(1690), respectively), on gene expression of osteoclastogenesis-associated molecules in murine cementoblasts. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL), interleukin-6, Regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed, and secreted (RANTES), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were rapidly and dramatically induced upon stimulation with PgLPS(1690), but only slightly induced with PgLPS(1435/1449). Osteoprotegerin, which was expressed constitutively, was not altered significantly. ELISA demonstrated synthesis of corresponding proteins. PgLPS(1690) significantly induced transcripts for NF-kappaB, and this activation was inhibited by pre-treatment with anti-TLR-2 but not with TLR-4 antibodies. These results suggest that cementoblasts participate in the recruitment of osteoclastic precursor cells by up-regulation of chemokines/cytokines.

Complete Lipopolysaccharide of Plesiomonas shigelloides O74:H5 (Strain CNCTC 144/92). 2. Lipid A, Its Structural Variability, the Linkage to the Core Oligosaccharide, and the Biological Activity of the Lipopolysaccharide,

Plesiomonas shigelloides is a Gram-negative bacterium associated with waterborne infections, which is common in tropical and subtropical habitats. Contrary to the unified antigenic classification of P. shigelloides, data concerning the structure and activity of their lipopolysaccharides (LPS and endotoxin) are limited. This study completes the structural investigation of phenol- and water-soluble fractions of P. shigelloides O74 (strain CNCTC 144/92) LPS with the emphasis on lipid A heterogeneity, describing the entire molecule and some of its biological in vitro activities. Structures of the lipid A and the affinity-purified decasaccharide obtained by de-N,O-acylation of P. shigelloides O74 LPS were elucidated by chemical analysis combined with electrospray ionization multiple-stage mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)), MALDI-TOF MS, and NMR spectroscopy. Lipid A of P. shigelloides O74 is heterogeneous, and three major forms have been identified. They all were asymmetric, phosphorylated, and hexaacylated, showing different acylation patterns. The beta-GlcpN4P-(1-->6)-alpha-GlcpN1P disaccharide was substituted with the primary fatty acids: (R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid [14:0(3-OH)] at N-2 and N-2' and (R)-3-hydroxydodecanoic acid [12:0(3-OH)] at O-3 and O-3'. The heterogeneity among the three forms (I-III) of P. shigelloides O74 lipid A was attributed to the substitution of the acyl residues at N-2' and O-3' with the secondary acyls: (I) cis-9-hexadecenoic acid (9c-16:1) at N-2' and 12:0 at O-3', (II) 14:0 at N-2' and 12:0 at O-3', and (III) 12:0 at N-2' and 12:0 at O-3'. The pro-inflammatory cytokine-inducing activities of P. shigelloides O74 LPS were similar to those of Escherichia coli O55 LPS.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a lipid A derivative that contains an aminogluconate moiety

A highly convergent strategy for the synthesis of several derivatives of the lipid A of Rhizobium sin-1 has been developed. The synthetic derivatives are 2-aminogluconate 3 and 2-aminogluconolactone 4, both of which lack C-3 acylation. These derivatives were obtained by the preparation of disaccharides in which the two amino groups and the C-3' hydroxy group could be modified individually with acyl or beta-hydroxy fatty acyl groups. Detailed NMR spectroscopy and MS analysis of 3 and 4 revealed that, even under neutral conditions, the two compounds equilibrate. The synthetic compounds lack the proinflammatory effects of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as indicated by an absence of tumor necrosis factor production. Although 3 and 4 were able to antagonize E. coli LPS, they were significantly less potent than the synthetic compound 2, which is acylated at C-3, and R. sin-1 LPS; these results indicate that the beta-hydroxy fatty acyl group at C-3 contributes to the antagonistic properties of R. sin-1 LPS. Based on a comparison of the biological responses of the synthetic lipid A derivatives with those of the R. sin-1 LPS and lipid A, the 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic moieties appear to be important for the optimal antagonization of enteric LPS-induced cytokine production.

Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide lipid A heterogeneity: differential activities of tetra- and penta-acylated lipid A structures on E-selectin expression and TLR4 recognition

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a gram-negative bacterium strongly associated with periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the tissue surrounding the tooth root surface. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) obtained from P. gingivalis is unusual in that it has been shown to display an unusual amount of lipid A heterogeneity containing both tetra- and penta-acylated lipid A structures. In this report, it is shown that penta-acylated lipid A structures facilitate E-selectin expression whereas tetra-acylated lipid A structures do not. Furthermore, it is shown that tetra-acylated lipid A structures are potent antagonists for E-selectin expression. Both tetra- and penta-acylated lipid A structures interact with TLR4 although experiments utilizing human, mouse and human/mouse chimeric TLR4 proteins demonstrated that they interact differentially with the TLR4 signalling complexes. The presence of two different structural types of lipid A in P. gingivalis LPS, with opposing effects on the E-selectin response suggests that this organism is able to modulate innate host responses by alterations in the relative amount of these lipid A structures.

Characterizing lipopolysaccharide and core lipid A mutant O1 and O139 Vibrio cholerae strains for adherence properties on mucus-producing cell line HT29-Rev MTX and virulence in mice

Components of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), i.e. capsule, O antigen, core oligosaccharide, as well as the toxin-coregulated pili are among the factors which significantly contribute to intestinal colonization by Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139. To further address the contribution of LPS to V. cholerae virulence, we performed in vivo colonization experiments and mucus layer attachment studies with defined LPS and capsule mutants of O1 and O139. We investigated the interaction of V. cholerae strains with the differentiated human intestinal cell line HT29-Rev MTX, and found 3-5-fold reduced efficiencies for attachment by defined LPS and capsule mutants of O1 and O139 in comparison with the wild-type strains. In addition, two O1/O139-specific core oligosaccharide biosynthetic gene products, WavJ and WavD, were characterized and tested for colonization. We demonstrate that single and double knockout mutants in wavJ and wavD have an effect on core oligosaccharide biosynthesis, and that these mutants show an attenuated growth in the presence of novobiocin. Curiously, in the mouse intestinal colonization model, only the O139 wavJ,D mutants demonstrated reduced colonization.

The Lipid A substructure of the Sinorhizobium meliloti lipopolysaccharides is sufficient to suppress the oxidative burst in host plants

Medicago sativa (alfalfa), Medicago truncatula and Nicotiana tabacum cell suspension cultures, responding to elicitation with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), were used to analyse the suppressor (and elicitor) activity of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of the symbiotic soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. In order to identify the epitopes of the LPS molecule recognized by the plant, S. meliloti mutants defective in LPS biosynthesis and hydrolytically obtained Lipid A were analysed for biological activity. Lipopolysaccharides isolated from Sinorhizobium meliloti mutants 6963 (altered core region) and L994 (no long-chain fatty acid) showed the same ability to suppress the oxidative burst in host plant cell cultures as the wild-type LPS. Lipid A also displayed the same suppressor activity. By contrast, rhizobial LPS, but not Lipid A, was active as an inducer of the oxidative burst reaction in cell cultures of the nonhost Nicotiana tabacum. In host plants of Sinorhizobium meliloti the Lipid A part is sufficient to suppress the oxidative burst, but in non-host plants at least some sugars of the LPS core region are required to induce defence reactions.

Diphosphoryl lipid A from Rhodobacter sphaeroides blocks the binding and internalization of lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 cells

Diphosphoryl lipid A derived from the nontoxic LPS of Rhodobacter sphaeroides (RsDPLA) has been shown to be a powerful LPS antagonist in both human and murine cell lines. In addition, RsDPLA also can protect mice against the lethal effects of toxic LPS. In this study, we complexed both the deep rough LPS from Escherichia coli D31 m4 (ReLPS) and RsDPLA with 5- and 30-nm colloidal gold and compared their binding to the RAW 264.7 cell line by electron microscopy. Both ReLPS and RsDPLA bound to the cells with the following observations. First, binding studies revealed that pretreatment with RsDPLA completely blocked the binding and thus internalization of ReLPS-gold conjugates to these cells at both 37 degrees C and 4 degrees C. Second, ReLPS was internalized via micropinocytosis (noncoated plasma membrane invaginations) involving formation of caveolae-like structures and leading to the formation of micropinocytotic vesicles, macropinocytosis (or phagocytosis), formation of clathrin-coated pits (receptor mediated), and penetration through plasma membrane into cytoplasm. Third, in contrast, RsDPLA was internalized predominantly via macropinocytosis. These studies show for the first time that RsDPLA blocks the binding and thus internalization of LPS as observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy.

Genetic and functional analysis of a PmrA-PmrB-regulated locus necessary for lipopolysaccharide modification, antimicrobial peptide resistance, and oral virulence of Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium

The two-component regulatory system PmrA-PmrB confers resistance of Salmonella spp. to cationic antimicrobial peptides (AP) such as polymyxin (PM), bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein, and azurocidin. This resistance occurs by transcriptional activation of two loci termed pmrE and pmrHFIJKLM. Both pmrE and pmrHFIJKLM produce products required for the biosynthesis of lipid A with 4-aminoarabinose (Ara4N). Ara4N addition creates a more positively charged lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and thus reduces cationic AP binding. Experiments were conducted to further analyze the regulation of the pmrHFIJKLM operon and the role of this operon and the surrounding genomic region in LPS modification and antimicrobial peptide resistance. The pmrHFIJKLM genes are cotranscribed and over 3,000-fold regulated by PmrA-PmrB. The pmrHFIJKLM promoter bound PmrA, as determined by gel shift analysis, as did a 40-bp region of the PmrA-PmrB-regulated pmrCAB promoter. Construction of nonpolar mutations in the pmrHFIJKLM genes showed that all except pmrM were necessary for the Ara4N addition to lipid A and PM resistance. The flanking genes of the operon (pmrG and pmrD) were not necessary for PM resistance, but pmrD was shown to be regulated by the PhoP-PhoQ regulatory system. BALB/c mice inoculated with pmrA and pmrHFIJKLM mutant strains demonstrated virulence attenuation when the strains were administered orally but not when they were administered intraperitoneally, indicating that Ara4N addition may be important for resistance to host innate defenses within intestinal tissues.

Binding of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide to fasciculata-reticularis and glomerulosa cells evaluated by flow cytometry

Binding of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to the two cell types of the adrenal cortex: fasciculata-reticularis and glomerulosa cells has been studied by flow cytometry and using fluorescein-labeled lipopolysaccharide (FITC-LPS). The binding characteristics were different in relation to time course and number of binding sites. Both fasciculata-reticularis and glomerulosa cells bound LPS in a specific and saturable process. Fasciculata-reticularis cells showed a higher affinity for LPS binding than glomerulosa cells as deduced from Hill plots. Unlabeled LPS decreased FITC-LPS binding in both fasciculata-reticularis and glomerulosa cells, suggesting competition of both ligands for a limited number of binding sites. Lipid A seemed not to be essential for binding of LPS to fasciculata-reticularis cells. However, serum constituents inhibited FITC-LPS binding to both cell types, possibly due to cell interaction with HDL. The exposure of cells to LPS during cell culture did not modify the number of binding sites, but revealed cell size and surfaces structure changes.

Expression of toll-like receptor 2 on gamma delta T cells bearing invariant V gamma 6/V delta 1 induced by Escherichia coli infection in mice

We recently reported that the number of gamma delta T cells was increased after infection with Escherichia coli in C3H/HeN mice. We here showed that an i.p. injection with native lipid A derived from E. coli induced an increase of gamma delta T cells in the peritoneal cavity of LPS-responsive C3H/HeN mice and, albeit to a lesser degree, also in LPS-hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mice. The purified gamma delta T cells from C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice expressed a canonical TCR repertoire encoded by V gamma 6-J gamma 1/V delta 1-D delta 2-J delta 2 gene segments and proliferated in response to the native lipid A derived from E. coli in a TCR-independent manner. The lipid A-reactive gamma delta T cells bearing canonical V gamma 6/V delta 1 expressed Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 mRNA, while TLR4 mRNA was undetectable. Treatment with a TLR2 anti-sense oligonucleotide resulted in hyporesponsiveness of the gamma delta T cells to the native lipid A. TLR2-deficient mice showed an impaired increase of the gamma delta T cells following injection of native lipid A. These results suggest that TLR2 is involved in the activation of canonical V gamma 6/V delta 1 T cells by native E. coli lipid A.

Intrinsic conformation of lipid A is responsible for agonistic and antagonistic activity

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS, endotoxin) represent a major virulence factor of Gram-negative bacteria, which can cause septic shock in mammals, including man. The lipid anchor of LPS to the bacterial outer membrane, lipid A, exhibits a peculiar chemical structure, harbours the 'endotoxic principle' of LPS and is also responsible for the expression of pathophysiological effects. Chemically modified lipid A can be endotoxically inactive, but may express strong antagonistic activity against endotoxically active LPS. By applying orientation measurements with attenuated total reflectance (ATR) infrared spectroscopy on hydrated lipid A samples, we show here that these different biological activities are directly correlated to the intrinsic conformation of lipid A. Bisphosphoryl-hexaacyl lipid A molecules with an asymmetric (4/2) distribution of the acyl chains linked to the diglucosamine backbone have a large tilt angle (> 45 degrees ) of the diglucosamine backbone with respect to the membrane surface, a conical molecular shape (larger cross-section of the hydrophobic than the hydrophilic moiety), and are endotoxically highly active. Monophosphoryl hexaacyl lipid A has a smaller tilt angle, and the conical shape is less expressed in favour of a more cylindrical shape. This correlates with decreasing endotoxic activity. Penta- and tetraacyl lipid A or hexaacyl lipid A with a symmetric acyl chain distribution (3/3) have a small tilt angle (< 25 degrees ) and a cylindrical shape and are endotoxically inactive, but may be antagonistic.

Escherichia coli msbB gene as a virulence factor and a therapeutic target

A mutation in the msbB gene of Escherichia coli results in the synthesis of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that lacks the myristic acid moiety of lipid A. Although such mutant E. coli cells and their purified LPS have a greatly reduced ability to stimulate human immune cells, a minor reduction in the mouse inflammatory response is observed. When the msbB mutation is transferred into a clinical isolate of E. coli, there is a significant loss in virulence, as assessed by lethality in BALB/c mice. When a cloned msbB gene is provided to functionally complement the msbB mutant, virulence returns, providing direct evidence that the msbB gene product is an important virulence factor in a murine model of E. coli pathogenicity. In the genetic background of the clinical E. coli isolate, the msbB mutation also results in filamentation of the cells at 37 degrees C but not at 30 degrees C, a reduction in the level of the K1 capsule, an increase in the level of complement C3 deposition, and an increase in both opsonic and nonopsonic phagocytosis of the msbB mutant, phenotypes that can help to explain the loss in virulence. The demonstration that the inhibition of msbB gene function reduces the virulence of E. coli in a mouse infection model warrants further investigation of the msbB gene product as a novel target for antibiotic therapy.

Structure-function relationships of bacterial endotoxins. Contribution to microbial sepsis

A substantial body of knowledge has emerged over the past several decades concerning the primary and tertiary, and quaternary structure of endotoxic LPS and their contribution to the pathogenesis of gram-negative sepsis; however, important questions remain. Among them are the precise three-dimensional configuration of the LPS macromolecule and the contribution of the quaternary structure to the ability of these potent microbial factors to interact with host humoral and cellular inflammatory mediator systems. Also remaining to be sufficiently addressed is the relative contribution of endotoxin interactions with the host to the overall manifestation of disease and conditions under which such contributions serve as the pivotal event in determining outcome. The answers to these questions can be expected to provide valuable insights into potential novel therapeutic intervention strategies and approaches that will ultimately reduce both morbidity and mortality in infection from gram-negative microbes.

CD11/CD18 and CD14 share a common lipid A signaling pathway

The activation of phagocytes by the lipid A moiety of LPS has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Gram-negative sepsis. While two LPS receptors, CD14 and CD11/CD18, have been associated with cell signaling, details of the LPS signal transduction cascade remain obscure. CD14, which exists as a GPI-anchored and a soluble protein, lacks cytoplasmic-signaling domains, suggesting that an ancillary molecule is required to activate cells. The CD11/CD18 integrins are transmembrane proteins. Like CD14, they are capable of mediating LPS-induced cellular activation when expressed on the surface of hamster fibroblasts Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1. The observation that a cytoplasmic deletion mutant is still capable of activating transfected CHO-K1 argues that CD11/CD18 also utilizes an associated signal transducer. We sought to identify further similarities between the signaling systems utilized by CD14 and CD11/CD18. LPS-binding protein, which transfers LPS to CD14, enhanced both LPS-induced cellular activation and binding of Gram-negative bacteria in CD11/CD18-transfected CHO-K1, thus implying that LPS-binding protein can also transfer LPS to CD11/CD18. When synthetic lipid A analogues were analyzed for their ability to function as LPS agonists, or antagonists, in the CHO transfectants, we found the effects were identical regardless of which LPS receptor was expressed. This supports the hypothesis that a receptor distinct from CD14 and CD11/CD18 is responsible for discriminating between the lipid A of LPS and the LPS antagonists. We propose that this receptor, which is the target of the LPS antagonists, functions as the true signal transducer in LPS-induced cellular activation for both CD14 and CD11/CD18.

[Immunosuppressive action of lipopolysaccharide S- and R-forms of Salmonella and the role of lipid A]

The immunosuppressive activity of extracellular and water-phenol lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of S.minnesota in S- and R-forms, as well as their gel-filtration, polysaccharide and lipid fractions, was studied in mouse experiments on the model of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH). The study revealed that the extracellular LPS of S-form S.minnesota was capable of suppressing DTH with lipid A playing the decisive role in this immunosuppressive activity. The extracellular LPS of Reform S.minnesota did not possess the capacity for immunosuppression, but acquired it after redox treatment.

A lethal role for lipid A in Salmonella infections

Salmonella infections in naturally susceptible mice grow rapidly, with death occurring only after bacterial numbers in vivo have reached a high threshold level, commonly called the lethal load. Despite much speculation, no direct evidence has been available to substantiate a role for any candidate bacterial components in causing death. One of the most likely candidates for the lethal toxin in salmonellosis is endotoxin, specifically the lipid A domain of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule. Consequently, we have constructed a Salmonella mutant with a deletion-insertion in its waaN gene, which encodes the enzyme that catalyses one of the two secondary acylation reactions that complete lipid A biosynthesis. The mutant biosynthesizes a lipid A molecule lacking a single fatty acyl chain and is consequently less able to induce cytokine and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) responses both in vivo and in vitro. The mutant bacteria appear healthy, are not sensitive to increased growth temperature and synthesize a full-length O-antigen-containing LPS molecule lacking only the expected secondary acyl chain. On intravenous inoculation into susceptible BALB/c mice, wild-type salmonellae grew at the expected rate of approximately 10-fold per day in livers and spleens and caused the death of the infected mice when lethal loads of approximately 10(8) were attained in these organs. Somewhat unexpectedly, waaN mutant bacteria grew at exactly the same rate as wild-type bacteria in BALB/c mice but, when counts reached 10(8) per organ, mice infected with mutant bacteria survived. Bacterial growth continued until unprecedentedly high counts of 10(9) per organ were attained, when approximately 10% of the mice died. Most of the animals carrying these high bacterial loads survived, and the bacteria were slowly cleared from the organs. These experiments provide the first direct evidence that death in a mouse typhoid infection is directly dependent on the toxicity of lipid A and suggest that this may be mediated via pro-inflammatory cytokine and/or iNOS responses.

Mechanism of antigenic variation in Shigella flexneri bacilli. IV. Role of lipopolysaccharides and their components in the sensitivity of Shigella flexneri 1b and its Lac+ recombinant to killing action of serum

The effect of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on the normal bovine serum (NBS) bactericidal reactions against mixture of S. flexneri 6713 1b strain and its 3b Lac+ recombinant were investigated. The serum killing of S. flexneri strains was inhibited, in different degree, by LPS extracted from either organisms. These properties were mainly due to LPS molecules; the lipid A fraction showed only low anticomplement activity, the polysaccharide fraction inhibited the killing activity of NBS in very low degree even at high concentration. These studies suggest that LPS composition especially the O-antigen polysaccharide chain contributes to the susceptibility of S. flexneri strains to NBS bactericidal activity.

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents that target endotoxin

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are a major clinical problem. Lipid A, the active part of lipopolysaccharide endotoxins in Gram-negative bacteria, is an intriguing target for new antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents. Inhibition of lipid A biosynthesis kills most Gram-negative bacteria, increases bacterial permeability to antibiotics and decreases endotoxin production.

A novel Escherichia coli lipid A mutant that produces an antiinflammatory lipopolysaccharide

A unique screen was used to identify mutations in Escherichia coli lipid A biosynthesis that result in a decreased ability to stimulate E-selectin expression by human endothelial cells. A mutation was identified in the msbB gene of E. coli that resulted in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that lacks the myristoyl fatty acid moiety of the lipid A. Unlike all previously reported lipid A mutants, the msbB mutant was not conditionally lethal for growth. Viable cells or purified LPS from an msbB mutant had a 1000-10,000-fold reduction in the ability to stimulate E-selectin production by human endothelial cells and TNF alpha production by adherent monocytes. The cloned msbB gene was able to functionally complement the msbB mutant, restoring both the LPS to its native composition and the ability of the strain to stimulate immune cells. Nonmyristoylated LPS acted as an antagonist for E-selectin expression when mixed with LPS obtained from the parental strain. These studies demonstrate a significant role for the myristate component of LPS in immune cell activation and antagonism. In addition, the msbB mutant allowed us to directly examine the crucial role that the lipid A structure plays when viable bacteria are presented to host defense cells.

Influence of CD14, LBP and BPI in the monocyte response to LPS of different polysaccharide chain length

In this study we examined the involvement of human serum, recombinant lipopolysaccharide binding protein (rLBP), recombinant (r)CD14, CD14 antibodies and recombinant bactericidal permeability-increasing factor (rBPI) in the induction of TNF by Salmonella minnesota LPS of different polysaccharide chain lengths. Soluble rCD14 and rLBP markedly enhanced LPS 6261 TNF production and to a lesser degree also enhanced TNF production from Re 595 LPS and lipid A DP. Addition of anti-CD14 antibodies resulted in nearly complete inhibition of LPS 6261-induced TNF production and partial inhibition of Re 595 LPS and lipid A DP-induced TNF release. The ability of lipid A MP to induce TNF production increased with addition of rCD14. Addition of rLBP or anti-CD14 antibodies had no detectable effect on lipid A MP-induced TNF production. The effect of rBPI was also tested and the results showed that only the TNF-inducing ability from smooth LPS was completely inhibited by rBPI. Recombinant BPI was considerably less effective in inhibiting Re 595 LPS-induced TNF production, and lipid A DP was not affected by rBPI. Our data suggest that the ability of rLBP, rCD14, CD14 antibodies and rBPI to modulate LPS induced TNF production is strongly dependent on the LPS polysaccharide chain length.

Comparison of the osteolytic activity of surface-associated proteins of bacteria implicated in periodontal disease

OBJECTIVES

To compare the osteolytic activity of surface-associated material (SAM) and lipid A-associated proteins (LAPs) from periodontopathogenic bacteria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Surface-associated material was extracted from the surface and LAPs from the cell walls of a range of periodontopathic bacteria including Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Eikenella corrodens. These bacterial fractions were assayed to determine their composition and their capacity to induce bone resorption was determined by use of the neonatal murine calvarial bone resorption assay.

RESULTS

The SAMs from E. corrodens and A. actinomycetemcomitans demonstrated bone-resorbing capacity at concentrations as low as 1 ng ml-1 which, given the molecular weights of the active components, is in the picomolar range of activity. In contrast, the SAMs from the other three bacteria were significantly less potent and showed a lower efficacy. The LAPs all showed significant, and similar, capacities to induce bone breakdown.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first demonstration that LAP from periodontopathic bacteria can stimulate bone degradation. The LAPs from diverse bacteria all produced similar levels of bone-resorbing activity. In contrast, the SAM showed significant differences in potency and in efficacy (maximal stimulation). This may mean that in vivo certain periodontopathic bacteria have significantly more bone-resorbing capacity than others and should be therapeutic targets.

Effect of lipopolysaccharide, leukocytes, and monoclonal anti-lipid A antibodies on erythrocyte membrane elastance

The micropipette aspiration technique was used to quantify membrane deformability of individual red blood cells (RBCs) before and after exposing whole blood and blood free of leukocytes to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The ability of an anti-lipid A monoclonal antibody (E5) to inhibit the effects of LPS was also investigated. In the LPS/whole blood studies, a significant increase in elasticity modulus was observed following incubation with LPS. An increase in elasticity modulus indicates a decrease in RBC membrane deformability. The effect depended on the incubation time but was not concentration-dependent in the range studied (25, 40, or 170 micrograms/mL). When incubating blood free of leukocytes with LPS, the elasticity moduli of erythrocytes did not change. Results also showed that preincubation of the LPS with E5 prior to incubation with whole blood partially inhibited the effect of LPS, suggesting a possible mechanism of the beneficial actions of monoclonal antibodies in septic shock.

[The endotoxins of gram-negative bacteria: their structure and biological role]

Main attention in the paper is paid to the study of lipid A, a component possessing endotoxic activity. Lipids A containing glucosamine disaccharide (representatives of Enterobacteriaceae family), and variants of lipid A differing from the toxic one either in the structure of carbohydrate core or in the spectrum of fatty acids are considered. They are either phototrophic, nodulating (Bradyrhyzobium species) or soil species (Nitrobacter and Thiobacillus) bacteria. Lipid A from lipopolysaccharides of over 25 species of bacteria (Rhodopseudomonas viridans, R. palustris, Pseudomonas diminuta, Phenylobacterium immobile, Brucella melitensis, B. abortus, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, etc.) contains 2.3-diamino-2.3-dideoxyglucose (lipid ADAG); glucosaminouronic acid was found in Rhizobium trifolii and galacturonic acid in R. leguminosarum bvs. phaseoli, trifolii and viceae. Mixed lipids (lipid A and lipid ADAG) were found in Campylobacter jejuni. Considerable variations were registered in the nature of fatty acids. Thus, 27-oxy-octacosanoic acid (27-OH-28 : 0) was found in lipid A of the studied species of Rhizobiaceae except for Azorhizobium caulinodans. No correlations between the composition of the carbohydrate core and presence of this acid were established. Implementation of the synthesis of a complete as well as of partial lipid A structures has confirmed authenticity of the described structures. Five different epitopes identified by antibodies are present in the hydrophilic part of lipid A. The structure and biological role of the outer and inner cores are considered separately, main attention being paid to identification of the role of the KDO-containing zone. Since O-specific polysaccharide is the most known lipopolysaccharide component from the viewpoint of the structure and biological activity, this material is given in a general form.

Influence of the supramolecular structure of free lipid A on its biological activity

The three-dimensional supramolecular structures and the states of order of the acyl chains of lipid A from different Gram-negative species were investigated at 40 degrees C, high water content (80-90%), and different [lipid A]/[Mg2+] molar ratios using synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Measurements were made on free lipid A from Salmonella minnesota R595, mono- and bi-phosphoryl, as well as those from the non-enterobacterial strains Rhodobacter capsulatus 37b4, Rhodopseudomonas viridis F, and Rhodocyclus gelatinosus 29/1. Parallel to differences in their chemical primary structure, the structural polymorphisms and states of order at 37 degrees C of the non-enterobacterial lipid A were found to be different from those of enterobacterial lipid A. A clear correlation between the supramolecular structure and previously determined biological activities was found. Lipid A with a strong preference for lamellar structures (Rb. capsulatus and Rp. viridis) are endotoxically inactive and lack cytokine-inducing capacity; the compounds assuming a mixed lamellar/nonlamellar structure (monophosphoryl lipid A from S. minnesota) are of lower toxicity in vivo, but may induce cytokines in vitro; those lipid A with a strong tendency to form non-lamellar inverted structures (lipid A from S. minnesota and Rc. gelatinosus) exhibit full endotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, anti-complementary activity is most pronounced for compounds with lamellar and least expressed for those with inverted structures. The states of order at 37 degrees C vary non-systematically, exhibiting the highest values for lipid A of S. minnesota and the lowest for that of Rc. gelatinosus. We propose to extend the term 'endotoxic conformation', which is used to describe the conformation of a single lipid A molecule required for optimal triggering of biological effects, to 'endotoxic supramolecular conformation' which denotes the particular organization of lipid A aggregates in physiological fluids causing biological activity.

Inhibition of lipid A- and lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine secretion, B cell mitogenesis, and lethal shock by lipid A-specific murine monoclonal antibodies

Three murine hybridomas secreting IgM monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to lipid A (LA) of Salmonella minnesota R595 were generated. These MAbs serologically cross-reacted with LA and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of unrelated gram-negative bacterial species. All three MAbs significantly suppressed the ability of LA and LPS from various gram-negative bacteria to induce tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (36%-67%) and interleukin-1 (30%-98%) in murine peritoneal macrophages and to stimulate B lymphocytes (37%-78%). Lipid A-induced TNF alpha production was also suppressed in mice (86%-88%). All three antibodies protected adrenalectomized mice against lethal shock induced by LA of S. minnesota R595. Optimal protection was achieved with one of the antibodies (MLA-1), if it was administered 2 h before injection of lipid A, and full protection persisted < or = 24 h. Moreover, MLA-1 was able to protect adrenalized or D(+)-galactosamine-sensitized mice against lethal shock induced by LPS derived from various gram-negative bacteria. This cross-protection could be predicted on the basis of serologic cross-reactivity and cross-neutralization by MLA-1 of the bioactivity of the heterologous LA or LPS in vitro.

The lipopolysaccharide of Shigella bacteria as a virulence factor

The virulence factors of the lipopolysaccharide of Shigella species bacteria include the endotoxic activities of the lipid A component of the molecule and the ability of the polysaccharide chain--the core and the O-antigenic polysaccharide--to provide the bacterium with resistance to host defense mechanisms such as opsonization, phagocytosis, and intracellular killing. Structural features of the lipopolysaccharides of four Shigella species-S. dysenteriae, S. flexneri, S. boydii, and S. sonnei--are described.

Macrophage activation by an ornithine-containing lipid or a serine-containing lipid

alpha-N-(3-Acyloxyacyl)-ornithine (or -serine) is the structure of lipoamino acids obtained by us previously from some gram-negative bacteria (Y. Kawai and I. Yano, Eur. J. Biochem. 136:531-538, 1983; Y. Kawai, I. Yano, and K. Kaneda, Eur. J. Biochem. 171:73-80, 1988; Y. Kawai, I. Yano, K. Kaneda, and E. Yabuuchi, Eur. J. Biochem. 175:633-641, 1988). The 3-acyloxyacylamide structure is present in both the lipoamino acids and lipid A of lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin). The efficacy of lipoamino acids (an ornithine-containing lipid and a serine-containing lipid) in activating C3H/HeSlc mouse peritoneal exudate macrophages was compared with that of bacterial lipopolysaccharide, because the two types of substances were expected to exhibit similar biological activities and physiological functions on the basis of their structural similarities. Actually, the lipoamino acids, as well as lipopolysaccharide, strongly activated the macrophages to generate the immunoregulatory substances prostaglandin E2 and interleukin-1, but their effect on the induction of L929 cell cytolytic factor (a possible tumor necrosis factor), another immunoregulatory substance, was weaker than that of lipopolysaccharide. The effect of lipoamino acids on the cytotoxicity of macrophages for EL-4 leukemia cells was very weak. However, all of these activities, as far as tested, were strongly enhanced by synergistic action with gamma interferon. Only the serine-containing lipid killed both C3H/HeSlc and C3H/HeJ macrophages to almost the same degree as endotoxin killed C3H/HeSlc macrophages. On the other hand, lethal toxicity for mice was not found with either the ornithine-containing lipid or the serine-containing lipid, even when 7 mg of compound was injected into a mouse. These studies suggest that the lipoamino acids are nontoxic characteristic immunoactivators.

Diphosphoryl lipid A from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides ATCC 17023 blocks induction of cachectin in macrophages by lipopolysaccharide

Purified diphosphoryl lipid A (DPLA) obtained from the nontoxic lipopolysaccharide of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides ATCC 17023 was shown to block the induction of cachectin (tumor necrosis factor) in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line by toxic deep-rough-chemotype lipopolysaccharide (ReLPS) of Escherichia coli in a concentration-dependent manner. The ReLPS-to-DPLA mass ratios of 1:10 and 1:100 (when 1.0 ng of ReLPS per ml was used) gave 55 and 95% inhibitions, respectively, of the induction of cachectin. Since the structure of the DPLA from R. sphaeroides is so similar to that of the lipid A moiety of the toxic ReLPS from E. coli, we suggest that this inhibition could have been due to competitive binding by DPLA to the active sites on the macrophage. This DPLA could become a useful reagent to study the nature of lipopolysaccharide/lipid A binding in macrophages and perhaps other responding cells.

Endotoxin-associated protein: a potent stimulus for human granulocytopoietic activity which may be accessory cell independent

Proteins coextracted with endotoxin, termed endotoxin-associated protein (EAP), have been shown to exert interleukin 1-like activities. The present studies demonstrate that EAP also exerts potent granulopoietic colony-stimulating activity (CSA) on human peripheral blood and bone marrow progenitor cells, comparable to that seen with various types of conditioned media. The CSA observed with EAP appeared to be heat (100 degrees C, 30 min) and trypsin resistant and partially pronase resistant. Similar resistance was observed with the porin proteins of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, and similar CSA activity was observed with a purified porin preparation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The CSA of EAP could be demonstrated in human peripheral blood and bone marrow leukocytes rigorously depleted of monocytes, T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes by treatment with specific monoclonal antibodies and complement.

Endotoxin-associated protein: interleukin-1-like activity on serum amyloid A synthesis and T-lymphocyte activation

Bacterial endotoxins or lipopolysaccharides (LPS) elicit a variety of biologic activities in intact animals and various in vitro systems. LPS from most gram-negative bacteria have appeared to have similar biologic activities regardless of the species of origin or method of preparation of the LPS. More recent studies have suggested differences in the effects of protein-rich as opposed to protein-free LPS in inducing mitogenesis of lymphocytes from endotoxin-resistant C3H/HeJ mice. These studies examine other activities of endotoxin-associated protein (EAP), purified to less than 0.007% contamination with LPS, and demonstrate that this material has activity mimicking some of the effects of interleukin-1 (IL-1). EAP proved to be as potent as LPS in eliciting rises in concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA) and was active in both endotoxin-sensitive (CF1) and endotoxin-resistant (C3H/HeJ) mice. In contrast to LPS, which mediates its SAA-inducing activity by release of an inducer (IL-1) from LPS-stimulated macrophages, EAP appeared to act directly to induce SAA production, in that incubation with macrophages failed to increase its activity. EAP also exhibited IL-1-like activity in the lymphocyte-activating factor assay when both CF1 and C3H/HeJ thymocytes and macrophages were tested. The lymphocyte-activating factor activity of EAP was not blocked by addition of polymyxin B. In addition, EAP exerted stimulatory activity on resting human T lymphocytes, costimulated with Sepharose-bound anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody 64.1, comparable to that observed with purified human monocyte IL-1. These studies indicate that proteins from procaryotic cells may act as cytokines for some eucaryotic cells.

Structure-activity relationship of lipid A: comparison of biological activities of natural and synthetic lipid A's with different fatty acid compositions

To investigate the structure-activity relationships, various biological activities, including pyrogenicity, lethal toxicity, elicitation of Shwartzman reaction, mitogenicity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-inducing activity, were compared among natural and synthetic lipid A's differing in fatty acid composition. In all these tests, natural lipid A's from Escherichia coli and Salmonella minnesota and synthetic LA-15-PP, which carries 3-hydroxy- and 3-acyloxy-tetradecanoyl groups at the 2, 3 and 2', 3' positions, respectively, showed the strongest activities among the tested lipid A's. In contrast, LA-16-PP, in which the amide-bound 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid at position 2 of LA-15-PP is replaced by 3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoic acid, exhibited lower activity than LA-15-PP and natural lipid A's. Although LA-16-PP has been assumed to have a typical Salmonella lipid A structure (and, in fact, it has a structure corresponding to one of the components of Salmonella lipid A), the activity of this synthetic compound was not comparable to that of natural Salmonella lipid A. LA-17-PP, in which tetradecanoic acid is the sole fatty acid component, exhibited relatively strong mitogenicity and TNF-inducing activity, but very low pyrogenicity. The activities of LA-18-PP, which has ester-bound tetradecanoic acid and amide-bound 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid, were lower than those of LA-17-PP. The results indicate that the differences in fatty acid composition of lipid A's have important influences on the biological activities studied.

Induction of the early hypotensive phase by Escherichia coli: role of bacterial surface structures and inflammatory mediators

An early hypotensive phase was induced in rats by different strains of Escherichia coli and cell wall fractions to study the role of the bacterial surface structure, the complement system, histamine, and serotonin in induction of hypotension. E. coli strains with only core glycolipid (E. coli strain J5) or with intact lipopolysaccharide O antigens on their surface induced hypotension and thrombopenia within 5 min after intravenous administration. This response was reduced by prior decomplementation of the rats and by methysergide, a serotonin antagonist. Two K antigen-positive strains induced no hypotension except after removal of K antigen. The isolated lipopolysaccharide fractions and the lipid A subfractions, but not the polysaccharide subfractions, were also able to induce hypotension. Thus the core glycolipid structure, by interactions that involve platelets and the complement system, is mainly responsible for induction of an early hypotensive phase in rats, and K antigens interfere with this response.

Mitogenic and polyclonal B cell activation activities of synthetic lipid A analogues

The activation of murine B cells and macrophages by synthetic lipid A analogues, solubilized with triethylamine and complexed with bovine serum albumin, were investigated in vitro. The analogues used are nonphosphorylated, C-1 or C-4' monophosphorylated and C-1,4' diphosphorylated derivatives of beta-1,6-linked D-glucosamine disaccharide possessing both ester- and amide-bound fatty acid substituents. They were divided into 4 groups, A, B, C and D in terms of the fatty acid substitution. Ester- and amine-bound fatty acids of the analogues are both tetradecanoic acids (C14) in group A, C14 and (R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoic acids (C14-OH) in group B, both C14-OH in group C and C14-OH and (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoic acids in group D. Mitogenic activity was exhibited in spleen cells from C3H/HeN mice by the C-1 monophosphorylated analogues in groups A and B, and by the C-4' monophosphorylated analogues in groups B, C and D, but not in cells from C3H/HeJ mice. Nonphosphorylated analogues in groups A, B and C, and C-4' monophosphorylated analogue in group A showed negative mitogenic activity. Only the nonphosphorylated analogue in group D exhibited mitogenic activity in spleen cells from C3H/HeJ mice as well as those from C3H/HeN mice. None of the other analogues exhibited the activity in C3H/HeJ spleen cells. Polyclonal B cell activation activity was exhibited by the C-1 monophosphorylated analogues in groups A and B, and by the C-4' monophosphorylated analogues in groups C and D. Nonphosphorylated analogues in all groups and C-4' monophosphorylated analogues in groups A and B showed negative PBA activity. None of the analogues tested could induce any cytostatic macrophages from thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages.

Conversion of lipopolysaccharides to molecular aggregates with reduced subunit heterogeneity: demonstration of LPS-responsiveness in "endotoxin-unresponsive" C3H/HeJ splenocytes

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of homogeneous monomeric composition were prepared by gel filtration chromatography of detergent-dissociated LPS from the smooth strain of E. coli 055:B5. Splenocyte mitogenic activity of reassociated column fractions and fraction pools is markedly dependent upon the ratio of O-antigen polysaccharide to lipid A. The activity of the homogeneous LPS in eliciting spleen cell responses varied by approximately three orders of magnitude. One of the fraction pools rich in lipid A (which contains only a trace of O-antigen polysaccharide) induces a spleen cell proliferative response in C3H/HeJ "LPS-nonresponder" spleen cells. This mitogenic activity is not present in either unfractionated LPS or O-antigen-rich fractions. These latter findings indicate LPS macromolecular aggregates of the appropriate physicochemical structure have the capacity to elicit C3H/HeJ spleen cell proliferative responses.

Increased outer membrane resistance to ethylenediaminetetraacetate and cations in novel lipid A mutants

Polymyxin-resistant pmrA mutants of Salmonella typhimurium differed from their parents in that they were resistant to tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-ethylenediaminetetraacetate-lysozyme, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-ethylenediaminetetraacetate-deoxycholate, and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-ethylenediaminetetraacetate-bacitracin. Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-ethylenediaminetetraacetate released about 50% less lipopolysaccharide from the pmrA strains than from the parental strains when the bacteria were grown in L-broth containing 2 mM Ca2+. Protamine, polylysine, octapeptin, benzalkonium chloride, cold NaCl, cold MgCl2, or cold tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane hydrochloride (pH 7.2) caused no leakage or markedly less leakage of periplasmic beta-lactamase from a pmrA mutant than from its parent strain. pmrA mutants were more resistant than their parent strains to protamine and polylysine but not to octapeptin or benzalkonium chloride, as measured by the ability of these agents to kill the bacteria or to sensitize them to deoxycholate-induced lysis. The pmrA strains did not differ from their parent strains in sensitivity to several antibiotics, in porin function (as measured by cephaloridine diffusion across the outer membrane), or in outer membrane-associated phospholipase A activity.

[Occurence, significance and clinical consequences of lipid A antibody titers in patients with urinary tract infection (author's transl)]

Lipid A antibody titers were measured by the passive hemolysis test in 349 humans. In two out of 20 healthy adults and 16 out of 18 children with recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) in the presence of anomalies anti-lipid A antibodies were present. In contrast, no titers were found in 23 newborn babies. In a group of 156 patients with acute UTI, 28% revealed positive titers, whereas in a group of 132 patients with recurrent UTI titers occurred in 81%. In a selected group of 132 patients with recurrent infections of the upper tract 59 (=96%) showed definite titers. There was no difference in the development of anti-lipid A antibodies between men and women and the height of the titers did not correlate with the clinical picture of the disease (acute or chronic). The combination of proteinuria and anti-lipid A antibodies indicates the presence of recurrent UTI or chronic pyelonephritis with about 90% accuracy. The titers are caused by immunogenically active lipid A in the body. Since lipid A has the ability to remain in the renal tissue for a long period of time and thereby to maintain the inflamatory response, long-term antimicrobial prophylaxis (six months) should be given to patients with a high risk of recurrent UTI.

Structural features of Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide required for activation of tissue factor in human mononuclear cells

Activation of mononuclear cell tissue factor was examined utilizing lipopolysaccharides obtained from wild-type and both Rc and Re mutants of Salmonella typhimurium. Wild-type (smooth) lipopolysaccharide, galactose-deficient (Rc) lipopolysaccharide, heptose-deficient (Re) lipopolysaccharide, and lipid A preparations were all active in their ability to generate tissue factor activity in human mononuclear cells grown in tissue culture. Polymyxin B has been reported to prevent some of the lethal effects of endotoxin in vivo, and the drug reportedly binds to the 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonate-lipid A region of the lipopolysaccharide molecule. Polymyxin B was effective in inhibiting the tissue factor generating activity of wild-type lipopolysaccharide, Re lipopolysaccharide, and lipid A in a dose-dependent fashion. Treatment of lipid A preparations with mild alkali abolished the ability of these preparations to activate tissue factor in cells. Analogous to many of the other biologic properties of lipopolysaccharide, tissue factor activation in human mononuclear cells appears to depend upon the integrity of the lipid A portion of the molecule.

Lipid A as the biologically active moiety in bacterial endotoxin (LPS)-initiated generation of procoagulant activity by peripheral blood leukocytes

Preparations of rabbit or human leukocytes, when incubated with bacterial endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) are stimulated to generate a procoagulant-tissue factor activity (TFa). As LPS has been shown to consist of specific repeating oligosaccharide side chains (O-antigen) linked to a central polysaccharide core region that is, in turn, linked to the lipid region of the molecule (lipid A), we have examined the biochemical requirement of the LPS necessary for generation of TFa. Using preparations of LPS from mutant strains of bacteria, which contain varying amounts of polysaccharide in relation to lipid A, we have demonstrated that activity is associated with the lipid A region of the LPS molecule. These observations have been confirmed using isolated lipid A, which is a potent stimulator of TFa, as well as a native protoplasmic polysaccharide that is both devoid of lipid A and without detectable TFa stimulatory activity. Modification of LPS by treatment with mild alkali abrogated its capacity to stimulate TFa generation. In addition, such altered preparations of LPS partially inhibit the stimulatory effect of native LPS. Similarly, treatment of LPS (or lipid A) with the antibiotic polymyxin B substantially inhibited the stimulatory effect of LPS.