KNOWLEDGE OF CELLULAR RECEPTORS FOR BACTERIAL-ENDOTOXIN - 1995

Septic shock due to infections with gram-negative bacteria remains a m ajor clinical problem for infectious disease specialists, although our understanding of the pathophysiology of this syndrome has improved gr eatly over the past 5 years. The discovery of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding protein, a serum protein that catalyses the transfer of LPS t o cellular receptors for LPS, was a major breakthrough. The finding th at CD14, a glycophosphatidylinositol-linked membrane protein expressed by macrophages, is a receptor for LPS has made a major difference in our understanding of cellular activation by LPS. We will review studie s dealing with LPS's binding to these proteins and its activation of c ells. A better understanding of septic shock at the molecular level sh ould lead to the development of new treatments for this lethal disease .