Effects of bacterial endotoxins and their detoxified derivatives on serum and liver lipids in mice.

The influence of different endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) obtained from Serratia marcescens 08, Escherichia coli 089, and their derivatives, detoxified either by partial hydrolysis or irradiation, on serum and hepatic lipids and on serum lipase activity in C57Black mice was studied. Endotoxic LPS elevated the serum total lipids and lipoproteins, particularly the very-low-density lipoproteins, and induced a reversible accumulation of triglycerides in the liver. Since nontoxic preparations did not cause such alterations, it is assumed that the toxicity of LPS is an essential factor in causing lipid metabolism disorder. A nearly identical increase in the lipase activity was detected in 5 to 10 hr in the sera of experimental animals treated by both toxic and nontoxic preparations. Results indicated the potential advantage of using detoxified derivatives of bacterial endotoxins in human therapy.