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PubMed1990

Endotoxin inhibits contraction of vascular smooth muscle in vitro.

Decreased responsiveness of the vasculature to vasoconstrictors has been implicated in the pathogenesis of endotoxic shock, yet the mechanism of diminished responsiveness has not been determined. In these studies, exposure of rat aortic rings to purified Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) in vitro inhibited subsequent contractions caused by vasoconstrictors. Contractions caused by the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine, as well as those induced by potassium depolarization, were depressed by endotoxin. The effect of endotoxin on vascular contractions was delayed. Phenylephrine-induced contractions were not decreased during a 1-h exposure to endotoxin (10 micrograms/ml), but they were markedly decreased when tested several hours after the exposure period. A large part of the inhibition caused by a 1-h exposure to endotoxin was endothelium dependent. In contrast, endotoxin inhibited contractions equally in rings with or without endothelium exposed to endotoxin for a longer period (3 h). The inhibitory effect of endotoxin was not affected by indomethacin, but it was eliminated in aortic rings treated with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. These studies indicate that endotoxin potently inhibits vascular contraction in vitro. The effect of endotoxin is apparently independent of prostanoids but may involve protein synthesis and effects on both vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1975

Fibrinogen levels after inflammation or endotoxin in normal and hypophysectomized rats.

The hypothesis that pituitary hormones are required for increased fibrinogen synthesis after inflammation or endotoxin was tested by measuring plasma fibrinogen concentrations after inflammation or endotoxin in normal and hypophysectomized rats. Animals were divide into groups receiving no exogenous adrenal steroids, low-dose adrenal steroids, or high-dose adrenal steroids. Hypophysectomy failed to prevent fibrinogen levels from rising after intramuscular turpentine (mean 240 mg/100 ml prior to and 556 mg/100 ml 24 h after turpentine). Steroids did not suppress this rise. Endotoxin, 5 mug/100 g, caused a marked rise in fibrinogen in normal rats at 24 h (mean 296 mg/100 ml before endotoxin and 554 mg/100 ml after endotoxin). This dose of endotoxin killed hypophysectomized rats within 12 h. Hoevr, if hypophysectomized rats were protected with high-dose adrenal steroids, then 5 mug of endotoxin per 100 g caused the same fibrinogen rise as in normal rats (mean 299 mg/100 ml before endotoxin and 587 mg/100 ml after endotoxin). Aparently, pituitary hormones are not necessay for increased fibrinogen synthesis after either inflammation or endotoxin in the rat.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Hyperoxia-induced emphysematous changes in subacute phase of endotoxin-induced lung injury in rats.

We examined the effects of prolonged hyperoxia (75% O(2)) on lung structure and collagen metabolism in the subacute phase of lung injury induced by continuous infusion of endotoxin (LPS) in a rat model. Experimental groups included control, endotoxin alone, endotoxin plus hyperoxia, and hyperoxia alone. Endotoxin-treated rats received a bolus of LPS (10 mg/kg i.v.) followed by 500 microg.kg(-1).day(-1) in continuous infusion for 10 days. The bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid/plasma albumin concentration ratio, an index of capillary permeability, and neutrophil and macrophage counts in BAL fluid were highest in the endotoxin plus hyperoxia group. On pathological examination, prolonged hyperoxia exacerbated destruction of the alveolar wall and caused most prominent emphysematous changes in the endotoxin plus hyperoxia group. Lung tissue hydroxyproline concentration was significantly decreased in the hyperoxia group and increased in the endotoxin group. The latent forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9 increased in BAL fluid of the endotoxin- and/or hyperoxia-treated groups, whereas the activities of collagenase and gelatinase, and the active form of MMP-2 were all increased in the hyperoxia-treated groups. Added to endotoxin, prolonged hyperoxia degraded collagen, the major structural component of basement membranes, and caused emphysematous changes associated with activation of collagenase and MMP-2. Our observations suggest that, in the subacute phase of endotoxin-induced lung injury, prolonged hyperoxia causes pulmonary emphysematous changes with persistent injury to the alveolar capillary barrier. Collagenase and MMP-2 activated by hyperoxia, together with MMP-9, may play prominent roles in disruption of the alveolar basement membranes and degradation of collagen lining the alveolar walls.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Response of cultured human pulmonary artery endothelial cells to endotoxin.

Endotoxemia is the leading cause of the adult respiratory distress syndrome. The effects of endotoxin on pulmonary endothelium, both in vivo and in culture, are diverse and complicated, and vary between species and cellular origin. Species such as sheep and cows are particularly sensitive to endotoxin, whereas rats and mice are more resistant. Studies using cultured pulmonary endothelial cells confirm these findings. Such species variations lead us to question whether human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC) are directly affected by endotoxin. The present study examined the effects of endotoxin on HPAEC. Cells were exposed to endotoxin (0.001-10 micrograms/ml) for 24 h and were examined by phase-contrast microscopy, and measurements were made of lactate dehydrogenase, prostacyclin, and prostaglandin E2 release in the cell-free supernatant. In the presence of serum, endotoxin doses as small as 0.01 microgram/ml resulted in endothelial retraction and pyknosis compared with controls (P < 0.05). Exposure to 10 micrograms/ml of endotoxin resulted in a significant increase in the number of pyknotic cells (P < 0.05), and lactate dehydrogenase release paralleled this finding. Endotoxin also resulted in a gradual increase in prostaglandin E2 release, reaching significance at 1 and 10 micrograms/ml of endotoxin (P < 0.05). A similar trend was noted for prostacyclin release. We conclude that the direct cytotoxic effects elicited by endotoxin on HPAEC may contribute to the onset of pulmonary edema in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1982

Metabolic and hormonal changes following endotoxin administration to diabetic rats.

The aim of these investigations was to study the time course and cause of the altered metabolic response of diabetic rats to endotoxin administration. Escherichia coli endotoxin was administered to streptozotocin-diabetic and control normoglycemic rats. At 1, 2, 5, 8, and 24 h following endotoxin, animals were decapitated. Plasma samples were analyzed for glucose, lactate, insulin, glucagon, and corticosteroids. In addition, tissue glycogen content of liver and skeletal muscle was determined. Endotoxin caused an elevation of plasma glucose in both diabetic and normoglycemic rats by 1 h postinjection. The elevation was prolonged in diabetic rats for 8 h but lasted only 2 h in nondiabetic rats. Both endotoxin-treated groups demonstrated hyperlactacidemia following endotoxin. Endotoxin led to liver glycogen depletion in both diabetic and normoglycemic rats, whereas muscle glycogen content was only slightly affected. Plasma glucagon and corticosteroids rose immediately and remained elevated in both endotoxin-treated groups. A significant insulin response to rising plasma glucose was observed in nondiabetic but not in diabetic rats following endotoxin. These results suggest that the exaggerated and prolonged hyperglycemia observed in diabetic endotoxin-treated rats is due to hypersecretion of glucose-mobilizing hormones and elevated gluconeogenesis, unmatched by an adequate secretion of insulin to promote glucose uptake and utilization.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1985

Restriction of gut-derived endotoxin impairs DNA synthesis for liver regeneration.

The influence of restricting gut-derived endotoxin availability on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy was evaluated. Partial hepatectomy was performed by 67% liver resection of ether-anesthetized rats. Liver regeneration was quantified after partial hepatectomy by [3H]thymidine incorporation into hepatic DNA; endotoxemia due to absorption of endogenous endotoxin from the gut into the portal circulation was determined by qualitative lysate assay of perchloric acid-extracted plasma samples, and plasma levels of the hepatotrophic factors insulin and glucagon were measured by radioimmunoassay. Treatments to restrict gut-derived endotoxin included chronic gavage with neomycin and cefazolin for gut sterilization, chronic gavage with cholestyramine to bind endotoxin within the gut, subcutaneous administration of polymyxin B to neutralize the lipid A portion of circulating endotoxin, intraperitoneal induction of endotoxin tolerance by progressively higher doses of endotoxin, and experimentation with isolator-reared defined flora Fisher rats that were Gram-negative bacteria deficient and therefore endotoxin deficient. All treatments to restrict endogenous endotoxin impaired DNA synthesis in regenerating livers particularly 21 h posthepatectomy when replication was increasing most rapidly in normal rats. We hypothesize that impairment of DNA synthesis after partial hepatectomy in endotoxin-restricted animals was due to the observed lack of normal systemic endotoxemic as well as hyperinsulinemic and hyperglucagonemic responses to 67% liver resection.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Ethanol oxidation is not required to attenuate endotoxin-enhanced glucose metabolism.

Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that acute ethanol (EtOH) intoxication, through an unknown mechanism, blunts the endotoxin-enhanced carbohydrate metabolism. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether oxidation of the ethanol moiety is required for the inhibition of the endotoxin-induced changes in carbohydrate metabolism. In vivo glucose kinetics were assessed by the intravenous administration of D-[3-3H]glucose in catheterized conscious unrestrained rats. Escherichia coli endotoxin (200 micrograms/100 g body wt) increased glucose rate of appearance (Ra) and metabolic clearance rate (MCR) by 75 and 50%, respectively. A primed-constant infusion of EtOH (275 mg/100 g + 25 mg.100 g-1.h-1) initiated 2 h before endotoxin challenge attenuated the endotoxin-enhanced glucose kinetics. EtOH intoxication did not prevent endotoxin-induced hyperglycemia but delayed the hyperlactacidemic response. The importance of EtOH metabolism in suppressing the glucose metabolic response to endotoxin was studied by administering 4-methyl-pyrazole (4-MP; 8 mg/100 g), an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase activity. After administration of 4-MP and a bolus injection of EtOH (275 mg/100 g), the plasma EtOH concentration remained constant and matched the level of EtOH in rats receiving a primed-constant infusion of EtOH. Inhibition of EtOH metabolism with 4-MP did not abrogate the ability of EtOH to suppress endotoxin-induced increases in glucose Ra or MCR. Furthermore, the injection of the nonmetabolized alcohol tert-butanol abolished the endotoxin-induced increase in glucose Ra and MCR without preventing the endotoxin-induced hyperglycemia and hyperlactacidemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed2006

Endotoxin and cisplatin synergistically stimulate TNF-alpha production by renal epithelial cells.

Acute renal failure often occurs in the clinical setting of multiple renal insults. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cisplatin nephrotoxicity, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and endotoxin-induced acute renal failure. The current studies examined the interactions between cisplatin and endotoxin with particular emphasis on TNF-alpha production. Treatment of cultured murine proximal tubule cells (TKPTS cells) with cisplatin resulted in a modest production of TNF-alpha, while treatment with endotoxin did not result in any TNF-alpha production. However, the combination of cisplatin and endotoxin resulted in large amounts of TNF-alpha synthesis and secretion. The stimulation of TNF-alpha production was dependent on cisplatin-induced activation of p38 MAPK and was associated with phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor eIF4E and its upstream kinase Mnk1. Inhibition of p38 MAPK and, to a lesser extent, ERK, reduced cisplatin+endotoxin-stimulated TNF-alpha production and phosphorylation of Mnk1 and eIF4E. Synergy between cisplatin and endotoxin was also observed in certain tumor cell lines, but not in macrophages. In macrophages, in contrast to TKPTS cells, endotoxin alone activated p38 MAPK and stimulated TNF-alpha production with no added impact by cisplatin. The combination of cisplatin and endotoxin did not result in synergistic production of other cytokines, e.g., MCP-1 and MIP2, by TKPTS cells. In summary, these studies indicate that cisplatin sensitizes renal epithelial cells to endotoxin and dramatically increases the translation of TNF-alpha mRNA in a p38 MAPK-dependent manner. These interactions between cisplatin and endotoxin may be relevant to the pathogenesis of cisplatin nephrotoxicity in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Methylprednisolone on circulating eicosanoids and vasomotor tone after endotoxin.

Acute pulmonary and systemic vasomotor changes induced by endotoxin in dogs have been related, at least in part, to the production of eicosanoids such as the vasoconstrictor thromboxane and the vasodilator prostacyclin. Steroids in high doses, in vitro, inhibit activation of phospholipase A2 and prevent fatty acid release from cell membranes to enter the arachidonic acid cascade. We, therefore, administered methylprednisolone (40 mg/kg) to dogs to see if eicosanoid production and the ensuing vasomotor changes could be prevented after administration of 150 micrograms/kg of endotoxin. The stable metabolites of thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Methylprednisolone by itself did not alter circulating eicosanoids but when given 2.5 h before endotoxin not only failed to inhibit endotoxin-induced eicosanoid production but actually resulted in higher circulating levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (P less than 0.05) compared with animals receiving endotoxin alone. Indomethacin prevented the steroid-enhanced concentrations of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha after endotoxin and prevented the greater fall (P less than 0.05) in systemic blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance with steroid plus endotoxin than occurred with endotoxin alone. Administration of methylprednisolone immediately before endotoxin resulted in enhanced levels (P less than 0.05) of both TxB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha but with a fall in systemic blood pressure and vascular resistance similar to the animals pretreated by 2.5 h. In contrast to the early steroid group in which all of the hypotensive effect was due to eicosanoids, in the latter group steroids had an additional nonspecific effect. Thus, in vivo, high-dose steroids did not prevent endotoxin-induced increases in eicosanoids but actually increased circulating levels of TxB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha with a physiological effect favoring vasodilation.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Effect of endotoxin on pituitary hormone secretion in sheep.

Endotoxin, a potent stimulator of the immune system and an important mediator in the pathophysiology of septic shock, has been shown to alter the release of certain hormones following its systemic administration. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of endotoxin on pituitary hormone secretion both in vivo and in vitro in sheep, with emphasis placed on its effects on growth hormone (GH) release. Endotoxin (400 ng/kg i.v.) increased plasma GH, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol and prolactin, while it decreased luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse frequency (p < 0.05). Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor, a major mediator of endotoxin effects, also increased following endotoxin administration. Endotoxin did not affect the GH response to human GH-releasing hormone. In vitro studies evaluated the effect of endotoxin to alter GH secretion from dispersed sheep anterior pituitary cells at dosages of 1, 10 and 50 micrograms/ml, with samples collected at 4, 8 and 24 h. Endotoxin increased pituitary GH secretion at 24 h for 1 microgram/ml (p < 0.05) and at all time periods for 10 and 50 micrograms/ml (p < 0.05). It also led to an increased release of ACTH and LH in vitro. The results of this study demonstrate the ability of endotoxin to alter pituitary hormone secretion both in vivo and in vitro in sheep, suggesting a direct effect of endotoxin on the pituitary gland.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed2000

Congenital deficiency of nitric oxide synthase 2 protects against endotoxin-induced myocardial dysfunction in mice.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis can be complicated by severe myocardial dysfunction and is associated with increased nitric oxide (NO) production by inducible NO synthase (NOS2). To investigate the role of NOS2 in endotoxin-induced myocardial dysfunction in vivo, we studied wild-type and NOS2-deficient mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Serial echocardiographic parameters of myocardial function were measured before and at 4, 7, 16, and 24 hours after an endotoxin challenge. Seven hours after challenge with either endotoxin or saline, systemic and left ventricular pressures were measured, and the first derivative of left ventricular developed pressure (dP/dt), slope of the end-systolic pressure-dimension relationship (Slope(LVESPD)), and time constant of isovolumic relaxation (tau) were calculated. Endotoxin challenge in wild-type mice decreased left ventricular fractional shortening, velocity of circumferential shortening, dP/dt(max), Slope(LVESPD), and dP/dt(min) and increased time constant tau. Endotoxin-induced myocardial dysfunction was associated with increased ventricular NOS2 gene expression and cGMP concentrations. Seven hours after endotoxin challenge, NOS2-deficient mice had greater fractional shortening, dP/dt(max), and Slope(LVESPD) than did endotoxin-challenged wild-type mice. Measures of diastolic function, dP/dt(min) and time constant tau, were preserved in endotoxin-challenged NOS2-deficient mice. After endotoxin challenge in wild-type mice, early (3-hour) inhibition of NOS2 with L-N:(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine hydrochloride prevented, whereas later (7-hour) inhibition could not reverse, endotoxin-induced myocardial dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that NOS2 is required for the development of systolic and diastolic dysfunction in murine sepsis.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Escherichia coli endotoxin inhibits agonist-mediated cytosolic Ca2+ mobilization and nitric oxide biosynthesis in cultured endothelial cells.

Altered release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor/nitric oxide (EDRF/NO) has been proposed as a final common pathway underlying the abnormal vasodilator responses to gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin). However, mechanisms responsible for lipopolysaccharide-induced changes in EDRF/NO release from endothelial cells have not been clarified. We evaluated direct effects of Escherichia coli endotoxin on agonist-stimulated cytosolic Ca2+ mobilization and NO biosynthesis in cultured bovine and porcine aortic endothelial cells (ECs). Two methods were used to assay for NO: (1) analysis of NO-induced endothelial levels of cGMP as a biological indicator of NO generation and (2) direct quantitative measurement of NO release (chemiluminescence method). Cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was evaluated using fura 2 fluorescence methodology (340/380-nm ratio excitation and 500-nm emission). Incubation of ECs with endotoxin (0.5 microgram/mL, 1 hour plus 1-hour wash) significantly inhibited bradykinin (100 nmol/L)- and ADP (10 mumol/L)-mediated increases in endothelial cell cGMP to 37% and 22% of control responses, respectively. In contrast, endotoxin failed to inhibit the increase in cGMP produced by the non-receptor-dependent Ca2+ ionophore A23187 (1 mumol/L) or sodium nitroprusside (1 mmol/L). Similarly, incubation with endotoxin inhibited ADP-stimulated increases in NO release and EDRF bioactivity to 55% and 56% of control values, respectively, but did not affect A23187-stimulated increases in NO release or EDRF bioactivity. Endotoxin produced significant decreases in both transient and sustained [Ca2+]i responses of ECs to bradykinin and ADP. For example, the initial rapid increase in bovine EC [Ca2+]i in response to bradykinin was reduced to 31% of the initial increases in control cells, and the secondary plateau phase was reduced to only 3% of respective control responses. Concentration-response relation to endotoxin (10(-3)) to 10(0) micrograms/mL) indicated high correlation and similar IC50 values (0.025 and 0.021 micrograms/mL, respectively) for inhibitory effects on cGMP and [Ca2+]i. Endotoxin had no effect on inositol trisphosphate formation ([3H]myo-inositol incorporation) and intracellular Ca2+ release ([Ca2+]i responses in Ca(2+)-free medium) induced by bradykinin. However, agonist-stimulated Mn2+ quenching (index of Ca2+ influx) was significantly attenuated by endotoxin treatment. These studies demonstrate that endotoxin directly decreases agonist (bradykinin and ADP)-mediated biosynthesis and release of EDRF/NO from ECs. These effects can be explained by altered [Ca2+]i mobilization mechanisms, which in turn produce subsequent decreases in activity of the Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent constitutive isoform of NO synthase and, ultimately, impairment of agonist-mediated NO release and endothelium-dependent vasodilation.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1988

Pentoxifylline decreases endotoxin-induced pulmonary neutrophil sequestration and extravascular protein accumulation in the dog.

Since neutrophils may be important in endotoxin-induced acute lung injury, we sought to determine whether injury produced by endotoxin in vivo would be modified by pentoxifylline, which decreases neutrophil adherence and lessens neutrophil activation in vitro. Anesthetized dogs received 4 micrograms/kg Salmonella enteriditis endotoxin intravenously after pretreatment with either saline or pentoxifylline 20 mg/kg intravenously administered followed by a continuous 0.1 mg/kg/min infusion. Two hours after endotoxin, pulmonary vascular permeability to protein was assessed as the lung extravascular accumulation of intravenously administered 113mIn-transferrin. Results expressed as the ratio of extra- to intravascular protein activities showed a clear increase over control values in dogs treated with endotoxin [0.064 +/- 0.003 (mean +/- SEM) and 0.31 +/- 0.14 respectively, p less than 0.05]. This increase with endotoxin was reversed by pentoxifylline to levels similar to control values (0.063 +/- 0.044, p less than 0.05). To determine whether pentoxifylline influenced neutrophil sequestration, thin sections of lung tissue were analyzed for neutrophil density using an intercept counting technique. Neutrophil density was doubled in dogs treated with endotoxin over that seen in controls (0.078 +/- 0.008 versus 0.042 +/- 0.006 neutrophils per alveolar septa, respectively, p less than 0.05) and this increase was significantly reduced by pentoxifylline treatment (0.048 +/- 0.009, p less than 0.05). Endotoxin increased lung retention of radiolabeled neutrophils and this was also prevented by pretreatment of the neutrophils with pentoxifylline. In summary, pentoxifylline decreases neutrophil accumulation and prevents the increase in pulmonary vascular permeability to protein induced by endotoxin. These data support the premise that pentoxifylline is protective against endotoxin-induced lung injury in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Differential responses of the endothelial and epithelial barriers of the lung in sheep to Escherichia coli endotoxin.

Although intravenous Escherichia coli endotoxin has been used extensively in experimental studies to increase lung endothelial permeability, the effect of E. coli endotoxin on lung epithelial permeability has not been well studied. To examine this issue in sheep, bidirectional movement of protein across the lung epithelial barrier was studied by labeling the vascular space with 131I-albumin and by instilling 3 ml/kg of an isosmolar protein solution with 125I-albumin into the alveoli. E. coli endotoxin was administered according to one of three protocols: intravenous alone (5-500 micrograms/kg), intravenous (5 micrograms/kg) plus low-dose alveolar endotoxin (10 micrograms/kg), and high-dose alveolar endotoxin alone (50-100 micrograms/kg). Alveolar liquid clearance was estimated based on the concentration of the instilled native protein. Sheep were studied for either 4 or 24 h. Although intravenous E. coli endotoxin produced a marked increase in transvascular protein flux and interstitial pulmonary edema, there was no effect on the clearance of either the vascular (131I-albumin) or the alveolar (125I-albumin) protein tracer across the epithelial barrier. High-dose alveolar E. coli endotoxin caused a 10-fold increase in the number of leukocytes, particularly neutrophils, that accumulated in the air spaces. In spite of the marked chemotactic effect of alveolar endotoxin, there was no change in the permeability of the epithelial barrier to the vascular or alveolar protein tracers. Also, alveolar epithelial liquid clearance was normal. Morphologic studies confirmed that the alveolar epithelial barrier was not injured by either intravenous or alveolar E. coli endotoxin. Thus, the alveolar epithelium in sheep is significantly more resistant than the lung endothelium to the injurious effects of E. coli endotoxin.

Albumins↗
PubMed2000

Influence of five antianaerobic antibiotics on endotoxin liberation by gram-negative anaerobes.

Endotoxin, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS), has for many years been recognized as a key effector molecule in the pathogenesis of gram-negative sepsis and septic shock. Seven strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group were studied for their ability to liberate endotoxin upon exposure to five anti-anaerobic antibiotics, trovafloxacin, cefoxitin, imipenem, meropenem and piperacillin/tazobactam, in an in-vitro experiment. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the antibiotics were determined by using the broth macrodilution technique. Thereafter, endotoxin liberation was detected in the filtered broth cultures of the anaerobic bacteria by the limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay after exposing the organisms to four different concentrations of the antibiotics in supplemented Brucella broth. Aliquots of the broth cultures were also taken at intervals of 0, 6, 24 and 48 h for viable counts. All seven gram-negative anaerobic bacteria investigated liberated induced cell-free endotoxin in filtered broth culture many times higher than the control. There was noticeable variation in the propensity of some antibiotics to induce endotoxin liberation. At four times the MICs, cefoxitin and piperacillin/tazobactam induced negligible quantities of endotoxin after 48 h exposure, whereas the others induced high levels of endotoxin release. After exposure to all concentrations for 48 h, endotoxin activity in the test system was many times higher with the Bacteroides fragilis sensu stricto than with the rest of the species in the Bacteroides group. To varying degrees, all five antibiotics had the capacity to induce endotoxin liberation by gram-negative anaerobic bacteria. This differential endotoxin release by the B. fragilis group may, in part, explain why B. fragilis sensu stricto, more than the other Bacteroides spp., is usually associated with clinical infections and higher morbidity.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2003

Endotoxin stimulates leptin in the human and nonhuman primate.

Leptin, which plays a key role in regulating energy homeostasis, may also modulate the inflammatory response. An inflammatory challenge with endotoxin has been shown to stimulate leptin release in the rodent. This finding has not been reproduced in humans or in nonhuman primates, although leptin levels have been reported to increase in septic patients. We have therefore examined the effects of endotoxin injection on plasma leptin levels in nine ovariectomized monkeys and four postmenopausal women. In an initial study in five monkeys, mean leptin levels did not increase during the first 5 h after endotoxin treatment, but did increase significantly from 6.4 +/- 2.1 ng/ml at baseline to 12.3 +/- 4.4 ng/ml at 24 h (P = 0.043). In a second study, a significant increase in leptin over time was noted after endotoxin treatment (P < 0.001); leptin release during the 16- to 24-h period after endotoxin injection was 48% higher than during the control period (P = 0.043). A similar stimulatory effect of endotoxin on leptin was observed when monkeys received estradiol replacement. In a third study, repeated injections of endotoxin over a 3-d period stimulated IL-6, ACTH, cortisol, and leptin release (P < 0.001). Leptin increased during the first day of treatment in all animals, but only monkeys with baseline plasma leptin levels greater than 10 ng/ml exhibited a sustained increase in leptin throughout the 3-d period. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.81; P = 0.008) between the mean baseline leptin level and the percent increase in leptin over baseline on the last day of treatment. In the human subjects, plasma leptin concentrations did not change significantly during the 7-h period after endotoxin injection. However, leptin increased in all four women from a mean baseline of 8.34 +/- 3.1 to 13.1 +/- 4.3 ng/ml 24 h after endotoxin (P = 0.038). In summary, endotoxin stimulates the release of leptin into peripheral blood in the human and nonhuman primate, but the time course is different from that reported in the rodent. These results are consistent with previous reports of increased blood leptin levels in patients with sepsis. The significance of these findings and the potential role of leptin in modulating the response to inflammation in the human require further study.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1982

Endotoxin penetration into root cementum of periodontally healthy and diseased human teeth.

This study was undertaken to determine the extent of in vitro penetration of E. coli endotoxin into the root cementum of periodontally healthy and diseased teeth. Freshly extracted teeth were washed in distilled water, scaled and divided into two groups of 16 teeth each. Nine diseased and five healthy teeth in the first group were immersed in various concentrations of E. coli endotoxin for 2 to 12 weeks. They were then prepared for indirect immunofluorescence examination after treatment with anti-endotoxin antibody and rhodamine conjugated secondary antibody. Teeth in the second group were prepared for autoradiographic examination by immersing nine diseased and five healthy teeth in tritium labelled E. coli endotoxin for 2 to 12 weeks. The latter technique also allowed for semi-quantitative study of the depth of endotoxin penetration by creating facets on the root at various depths after endotoxin exposure. This technique was also used to investigate the strength of endotoxin binding to the tooth surface by brushing for 1 minute and re-examining the tooth for the presence of endotoxin. Controls included periodontally diseased and healthy teeth. Results of the study showed that (1) endotoxin adheres to the tooth surface without penetration into the root cementum of either periodontally healthy or diseased teeth, and (2) the binding of the endotoxin to the root surface appears to be weak.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[The effect of water rinsing in removal of endotoxin from exposed root].

Previous studies have revealed that periodontally involved exposed roots show evidence of biologic toxicity possibly due to endotoxin from subgingival micro-organisms. Eleven periodontally involved teeth and five periodontally healthy teeth comprised the material. The teeth were rinsed in ultrasonic cleaner containing pyrogen-free water for one hour. The samples were taken from the solution after 1, 5, or 60 minutes. With the aim of removing residual endotoxin on the roots not eliminated by rinsing, each tooth was subjected to extraction of endotoxin with 45% phenol in water for 90 minutes at 65 degrees C. After extraction of endotoxin, the root surface of the involved teeth was further planned with a hand scaler. Endotoxin was extracted from the particles removed from the root surfaces. All samples were tested for endotoxin by limulus amoebocyte lysate assay. The amount of endotoxin from involved teeth was 4,500 +/- 2,000 ng per tooth and from healthy teeth it was 370 +/- 120 ng per tooth. The amount of residual endotoxin on roots from involved teeth was 32 +/- 20 ng per tooth and from healthy teeth it was 1.2 +/- 1.1 ng per tooth. The amount of endotoxin collected from particles removed from previously rinsed involved root surfaces was 1.5 ng per tooth. The rate of removal of endotoxin by water rinsing of a tooth was 64 +/- 25% in 1 minute, 85 +/- 16% in 5 minutes, 99 +/- 0.6% in 60 minutes.

Endotoxins↗