[Functional state of immunocompetent cells in rabbits partially tolerant to lipopolysaccharide]

The author studied the regular features of interleukin-1 (IL-1) formation and proliferative activity of cells of the lymphoid organs in rabbits tolerant to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A weak temperature response of LPS tolerant rabbits to LPS administration was linked with decrease of IL-1 secretion by blood and splenic cells and the formation in the spleen of a cell population which had a suppressive effect on IL-1 production. In administration of large LPS doses, the changes of the processes of IL-1 proliferation and production in the various lymphoid organs of the rabbits differed. The proliferative response of the splenic cells to T- and B-cell mitogens reduced, a tendency to intensification of the proliferative processes was noted in the thymus. The secretion and accumulation of IL-1 by blood and splenic cells was reduced, the secretion and intracellular content of this mediator in the thymus and lymph nodes was increased.