[The specificity of interaction between the complement and the lipopolysaccharide with a low activity of the...

Interactions between the complement with a low activity and the lipopolysacharide (LPS) with an extensive concentration range were experimentally investigated in vitro. A model was suggested that provides an explanation to the concentration-related dependence. The complement and LPS were shown, under certain conditions, to form the membrane-attacking complexes, which are not bound with the bacterium membrane and which can lyse any cells. Damages made by the above complexes to endothelial cells of the vessels could result in the onset of the syndrome of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The results can be used to develop a method applicable to evaluating a concentration of endotoxin and to creating anti-tumor drugs.