• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2021

This study was undertaken to clarify the effects of omega-3 fatty acid on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury. Rabbits were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Each group received intravenous infusion of saline only, saline and Escherichia coli endotoxin, omegaven infuison (0.5 mL/kg/hr) and endotoxin, lipoven (0.5 mL/kg/hr) and endotoxin respectively. Infusion of saline was started 0.5 hr before the infusion of saline or endotoxin, and omegaven and lipoven were started 2 hours after endotoxin infusion for 4 hours. The lungs of rabbits were ventilated with 40% oxygen. Mean blood pressure, heart rate, arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), and peripheral blood leukocyte were recorded. The wet/dry (W/D) weight ratio of lung and lung injury score were measured, and analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was done. Endotoxin decreased PaO2, and peripheral blood leukocyte and platelet count. And it increased W/D ratio of lung, lung injury score and leukocyte count, percentage of PMN cells, concentration of IL-8 in BALF. Omegaven attenuated all these changes except for peripheral blood leukocyte counts. Omegaven attenuated endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in rabbits mainly by inhibiting neutrophil and IL-8 responses, which may play a central role in endotoxin-related lung injury.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the effects of ${\ulcorner}Persicae\;Semen{\lrcorner}(PS)$ on the blood injected by Endotoxin in rats. The blood was induced by Endotoxin injection into the caudal vein of rats and PS group taken a measurement of RBC, Hb, Hct, Platelet, WBC, ESR, CRP. The results were obtained as follows: 1. RBC, Hb, Hct, Platelet, WBC were increased with statistical significance at PS group as compared with those of the control group. 2. ESR, CRP were decreased with statistical significance at PS group as compared with those of the control group. It is concluded that PS group has significant effects on the blood injected by Endotoxin in rats. Therefore, PS group seems to be applicable to the diseases related to Endotoxin in clinics.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.27-29
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• 2001

Vibrio vulnificus endotoxin was extracted, analyzed the chemical composition, tested its biological activity, and compared to those of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The major fatty acid of three endotoxins were different each other; V. vulnificus endotoxins were different each other; V. vulnificus endotoxin was myristric acid (C14:0), E. coli was lauric acid (C12:0), S. typhimurium was capric acid (C10:0). The biological activities of V. vulnificus endotoxin were similar to those of E. coli and S. typhimurium in terms of the gelation activity of the Limulus amebocyte lysate and the lethal toxicity. But the result of enzyme (AST, ALT, and LDH) analysis showed that the enzyme activity of V. vulnificus endotoxin was similar to that of E. coli, but smaller than that of S. typimurium.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 1993

Effects of the five fermenation media on the growth and the production of endotoxin of twenty-five Bacillus thuringiensis isolates were investigated. Among the five different media, the growth and the production of endotoxin of B. thuringiensis were highest in the M4 and M5 media containing high amounts of nitrogen and carbohydrate. But the production of endotoxin was highest in the M1 and M3 media containing high amounts of nitrogen sources limiting carbohydrate. The average number of endotoxin and growth(O.D.) in the M1 and M3 medial were 4.4*107/ml and 2.42 in M1 medium and 1.3*107/ml and 1.46, respectively.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.910-916
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• 2002

Endotoxin tolerance reduces the capacity of monocytes to produce proinflammatory cytokines, results in cellular immune paralysis, and down-regulates the production of helper T (Th)1 type cytokines with a shift toward a Th2 cytokine response. Prostaglandin (PG)E$_2$ in the immune system also results in macrophage inactivation and the suppression of Th1 activation and the enhancement of Th2 activation. However, the inhibitory effects of PGE$_2$ on the altered polarization of the Th cell and macrophage interleukin (IL)-6 production characterized in part by cellular immune paralysis in a state of endotoxin tolerance is unclear. This study was undertaken, using indomethacin, to investigate the role of endogenous PGE$_2$ on the Th cytokines and macrophage IL-6 production in a state of endotoxin tolerance compared to those with endotoxemia mice, wherein, in this latter case, the increased production of proinflammatory cytokines and PGE$_2$ is exhibited. Endotoxemia was induced by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 10 mg/kg in saline) i.p. once in BALB/c mice, and endotoxin tolerance was induced by pretreatment with LPS (1 mg/kg in saline) injected i.p. daily for two consecutive days and then with LPS 10 mg/kg on day 4. Splenocytes or macrophages were obtained from endotoxemia and endotoxin tolerance models pretreated with indomethacin, and then cytokine production was induced by Con A-stimulated splenocytes for the Th cytokine assays and LPS-stimulated macrophages for the IL-6 assay. Our results showed that endotoxemia led to significantly reduced IL-2 and IL-4 production, to significantly increased IL-6 production, whereas interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ production was not affected. Indomethacin in the case of endotoxemia markedly attenuated $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-6 production and didnt reverse IL-2 and IL-4 production. Endotoxin tolerance resulted in the significantly reduced production of IL-2 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ and the significantly increased production of IL-4 and IL-6. Indomethacin in endotoxin tolerance greatly augmented IL-2 production, significantly decreased IL-4 production, and slightly attenuated IL-6 production. These findings indicate that endogenous PGE$_2$ may mediate the suppressed Th1 type immune response, with a shift toward a Th2 cytokine response in a state of endotoxin tolerance, whereas endotoxemia may be regulated differentially. Also, endogenous PGE$_2$ may mediate macrophage IL-6 production in the case of endotoxemia to a greater extent than in the case of endotoxin tolerance.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.5 s.85
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• pp.658-663
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• 2007

Bacillus thuringiensis is a well-known species of entomophathogenic bacteria that is widely used as a biopesticide against many insect pests. It produces parasporal crystals ($\delta$-endotoxin) and endospores during sporulation. In this report, the $\delta$-endotoxin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis BT-1 and BT-2 were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope(TEM), SDS-PACE, and solubilization activity by alkaline solution. BT-1, BT-2 were cultured in the GBY medium, and the $\delta$-endotoxin of them was purified with discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Their $\delta$-endotoxin was observed by SEM and TEM. Morphologically, the $\delta$-endotoxin of BT-1 was a square and flat type, whose size was $1.73{\mu}m{\times}0.7{\mu}m$, and the $\delta$-endotoxin of the BT-2 was spherical form whose size was $1.1{\mu}m{\times}0.9{\mu}m$ determined by SEM and TEM. The $\delta$-endotoxin of the BT-1 was composed of 28 kDa and 21 kDa, however, it of the BT-2 was composed of 50 kDa, 35 kDa, and 22 kDa bands determined by SDS-PACE. The purified crystals of BT-1 and BT-2 were dissolved gradually in alkaline solution as time goes by, and it was perfectly dissolved after 3 hours. It is supposed that the $\delta$-endotoxin of crystal was converted to a state of activation in the course of time in the intestines of insect.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.357-371
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• 1991

To identify the pathogenetic role of reactive oxygen free radical-induced oxidation reaction in endotoxin-induced acute lung injury, we infused endotoxin into 8 domestic pigs; endotoxin only (n=3), pretreatment with dimethylthiourea (DMTU) (n=5). We observed the sequential changes in hemodynamic parameters, the concentration of plasma oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in pulmonary arterial and venous blood, and albumin content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The results were as follows. 1) While cardiac output decreased, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and alveolar-arterial oxygen difference increased over phase 1 (0-2 hr) and phase 2 (2-4.5 hr) by endotoxin, DMTU attenuated the above changes only during phase 2. 2) While the concentration of plasma GSSG increased significantly by endotoxin during phase 2, there were no significant differences between pulmonary arterial and venous GSSG contents during both phases. The increase in plasma GSSG content was attenuated by DMTU. 3) The content of BALF albumin was significantly lower in DMTU group than that of endotoxin group. These results suggest that reactive oxygen free radical-induced oxidation reaction may have an important pathogenetic role in endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in pigs, which seems to be greater during phase 2 rather than phase 1.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2000

To investigate the effects of bacterial endotoxin on lipids and cytokines, and to explain the relationships between their changes, we carried out this study using experi-mentally Escherichia coli (E. coli) endotoxin-induced septicemic rabbits. The triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations in endotoxin groups were generally high (p<0.01 or 0.05) at all sampling time points (from 3hr to 24 hr), while phospholipid concentrations in endotoxin groups elevated in dose-dependent fashion at 3hr and 6hr after endotoxin injection compared to control group (p<0.05), There were significant negative correlations between lipids changes and cytokines (TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$) each other (p<0.05), and endotoxic rabbits having higher triglyceride of cholesterol levels shown relatively better conditions compared with others. As a result, the alterations in the lipid compositions caused by endotoxin may imply an active exhibition of the host defense mechanism rather than the disturbances of lipid metabolism.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.319-327
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• 1994

Background: The pathogenetic mechanism of adult respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) is not clearly defined yet, but it is well known that increased pulmonary capillary permeabilty is characteristic feature of ARDS. The increased alveolar-capillary permeability is usually preceded by damage of pulmonary artery endothelial cells. The released enzymes and oxygen free radicals from the activated neutrophils seem to play a predominant role in endothelial cell cytotoxicity. The activated neutrophils, however, probably are not the sole contributing factor in this type of damage because many cases of ARDS have been reported in severe neutropenia. Bacterial endotoxin perse and/or oxygen free radicals released from endothelial cells are suggested to be possible factors that contribute to the development of ARDS. The purpose of this study is to investigate the direct cytotoxicity of endotoxin and the role of oxygen free radicals released from the endothelial cells in endotoxin-induced endothelial cell cytotoxicity. Methods: First, to investigate whether endotoxin is cytotoxic to HUVE by itself, various doses of endotoxin were added to culture medium and cytotoxicity was measured. Second, to evaluate the possible role of oxygen free radical in endotoxin-induced HUVE cytotoxicity, various antioxidants were added on the endotoxin-induced HUVE cytotoxicity and cytotoxicity was measured. Third, to verify the release of oxygen free radicals from HUVE, the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in the endotoxin-treated culture supernatant were measured. Finally, to observe the cytotoxic effect of hydrogen peroxide, HUVE cytotoxicity in the presence of various doses of hydrogen peroxide was measured. The fourth generations of subcultured HUVE from primary culture were used. The cell cytotoxicity was quantified by the chromium-51 release assay. Results: 1) Endotoxin alone showed HUVE cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent fashion. 2) Endotoxin-induced HUVE cytotoxicity was significantly attenuated by the pretreatment of catalase and DMTU. 3) Hydrogen peroxide was released from HUVE after endotoxin treatment in a dose-dependent fashion. 4) Exogenous hydrogen peroxide also showed HUVE cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent fashion. Conclusion: These results suggest that endotoxin alone can directly injure HUVE, and, oxygen-free radicals released from HUVE in response to endotoxin may also participate in the endotoxin-induced HUVE cytotoxicity.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.34-39
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• 1998

For more convenient and rapidly isolation of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis(Bti), 1) heat treatment spore forming bacteria, 2) growth in enrichment culture media for Bacillus sp. and 3) selection of bacteria producing a lecithinase for Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, were performed. Spore forming bacteria were counted 4.8 $\times $ 10$^{8}$cells/g soil on NAPGCY media, 9.2 $\times $ 10$^{7}$cells/g soil on NA media, and 3.6 $\times $ 10$^{8}$cells/g soil on NAAC media, respectively. Bacteria producing only a lecithinase were reached at 25.2% on medium contained egg york, bacteria only producing a delta-endotoxin were reached at 23.2% by phase contrast microscope, and bacteria producing a lecithinase & a delta-endotoxin simultaneously were reached at 13.7%. Bacillus thuringiensis which producing a lecithinase and a delta-endotoxin simultaneously among bacteria producing a lecithinase, were reached at 56.5%; A half of Bacillus thuringiensis was produced a delta-endotoxin, but not produced a lecithinase. Among 8 isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis, two strain of Bti which has a mosquito-cidal toxin, were detected by PCR using a specific primer of $\delta $-endotoxin gene from Bti.