DIFFERENTIAL-EFFECTS OF BACTERIAL LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES UPON NEUTROPHILFUNCTION

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent inflammatory agent which augments neutrophil sensitivity to subsequent inflammatory stimuli, In this st udy, the effects of structurally different LPS types upon neutrophil e ffector functions were examined, Rough LPS types, which have lost the O-polysaccharide moiety, were found to act more rapidly than smooth LP S ta pes in stimulating neutrophil Pa integrin activity and fMLP-induc ed respiratory burst. These findings suggest an involvement of the O-p olysaccharide region of LPS in regulating neutrophil responsiveness to different LPS chemotypes with important implications for the mechanis ms underlying regulation of the inflammatory response in conditions as sociated with elevation of LPS in plasma, e.g. septic shock or acute r espiratory distress syndrome. (C) 1998 Federation of European Biochemi cal Societies.