Gl. Card et al., ACTIVATION OF ARACHIDONIC-ACID METABOLISM IN MOUSE MACROPHAGES BY BACTERIAL AMPHIPHILES, Journal of leukocyte biology, 56(6), 1994, pp. 723-728
The relative activities of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from four Gram-posi
tive bacteria were compared to different lipopolysaccharide (LPS) prep
arations for activation of arachidonic acid metabolism in mouse perito
neal macrophages. Total eicosanoid was determined in cultures labeled
with [H-3]-arachidonic acid. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and leukotrie
ne C-4. (LTC(4)) were determined by EIA analysis, The relative potenci
es of the different preparations were: smooth LPS from Salmonella abor
tus greater than or equal to Re-LPS from Salmonella minnesota (R-595)
greater than or equal to LTA from Streptococcus pyogenes approximate t
o Streptococcus faecalis approximate to Staphylococcus aureus greater
than or equal to monophosphoryl lipid A derived from the Re-LPS > > LT
A from Bacillus subtilis. Activation of eicosanoid release was inhibit
ed by staurosporin for all of the amphiphiles tested, Treatment of the
macrophage cultures with LTA from S. pyogenes, S. faecalis, and S. au
reus, either in the presence or absence of indomethacin, desensitized
the cells to eicosanoid release on subsequent challenge with LPS, The
desensitized cells remained responsive to the phorbol ester phorbol my
ristate acetate. LPS from Gram-negative bacteria has immunostimulatory
and endotoxic activities which result, in part, from the release of e
icosanoids and other mediators from activated macrophages. The similar
ities in the patterns of cell activation by LPS and LTA suggest that l
ipoteichoic acids might contribute to the pathogenicities of Gram-posi
tive bacteria.