Effects of E. coli 0111.B4 lipopolysaccharide on spin-labelled murine macrophage and hepatocyte membranes.

Macrophages and hepatocytes from normal and BCG-primed mice have been spin-labelled in their membranes with 5- and 16-doxyl stearic acid. Incubation of spin-labelled cells from BCG-primed animals with lipopolysaccharide from E. coli 0111.B4 produced a detectable and transient disturbance in the cell membranes as reflected by an increase in the order parameter measured from the electron spin resonance spectra of 5-doxyl-stearate. This membrane disturbance was maximal at 3-4 hours of incubation and was only detected with cells from mice primed with BCG. Spectra obtained from the 16-doxyl-stearate-labelled cells showed no change in order parameter on incubation with lipopolysaccharide.