Biological activities of leptospiral lipopolysaccharide.

Lipopolysaccharide extracted with phenol-water from Leptospira interrogans serovar copenhageni strain Shibaura (L-LPS) showed various biological activities. In lethality for mice, L-LPS was active (LD 50, 3.4 mg/mouse) but about 12 times less potent than Escherichia coli LPS (E-LPS) per weight basis. L-LPS had pyrogenicity for rabbits, and the fever curves showed no evidence of the classical biphasic fever produced by E-LPS. In the bone marrow of mice, L-LPS caused hemorrhages and necrosis but less severe than those caused by E-LPS. Histopathologically, fresh hemorrhages were found in the intestine, spleen, lung and the other organs at 24 h after inoculation of L-LPS. Necrosis was also found in these organs and was particularly severe in mice inoculated with more than 2 mgL-LPS. Liver necrosis was found at 7th day after inoculation of L-LPS but not after inoculation of E-LPS. L-LPS had adjuvant activity just like E-LPS. L-LPS enhanced non-specific resistance to Salmonella infection and activated mouse peritoneal macrophages to kill these organisms. L-LPS was positive in limulus test just like E-LPS. These results demonstrated similarities of L-LPS and E-LPS. Some toxic effects of L-LPS were less than those of E-LPS, but some effects of L-LPS were more than those of E-LPS. L-LPS was antigenically active and the specificity was serogroup-associated. L-LPS was composed of carbohydrate (54%), lipid (12%), protein (5%). Arabinose, xylose and rhamnose were major sugars as detected by gas chromatography. 2-keto-deoxyoctanate (KDO) was not detectable.