Lipopolysaccharide-mediated injury to cultured human glomerular endothelial cells.

Lipopolysaccharide induced a dose-dependent detachment of human glomerular cells in vitro. The detachment occurred 24 hr after exposure to endotoxin. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were not affected by more prolonged exposure or higher concentrations of lipopolysaccharide in the medium. The lipopolysaccharide effect was independent of complement components or leukocytes.