CD14 AND OTHER RECOGNITION MOLECULES FOR LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE - A REVIEW

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or endotoxin elicits a broad, non-specific ca scade of events in vivo, resulting in secretion of a variety of potent mediators and cytokines produced primarily by activated macrophages a nd monocytes. The overproduction of these effector molecules, such as interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, contributes to the path ophysiology of endotoxic shock. Cellular recognition of LPS involves s everal different molecules, including cluster of differentiation antig en CD14. A thorough understanding of the interaction of LPS with cells of the immune system is necessary before effective preventative or th erapeutic measures can be designed to limit the host response to endot oxin. This review discusses the role of CD14 and other LPS-recognition molecules in LPS-mediated macrophage activation.