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Published on: May 2, 2018
High Susceptibility of Strain A Mice to Endotoxin and Endotoxin-Red Blood Cell Mixtures
1Department of Bacteriology and Cancer Research Genetics Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California.
Abstract:
Heppner, Gloria (University of California, Berkeley), and David W. Weiss. High susceptibility of strain A mice to endotoxin and endotoxin-red blood cell mixtures. J. Bacteriol. 90:696-703. 1965.-Strain A mice were shown to be considerably more susceptible to lethal effects of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) than mice of several other strains. Complexes of sublethal quantities of LPS and sheep red blood cells were synergistically toxic for strain A mice. Separate administration of sheep red blood cells and heat-killed salmonellae, in either order and as long as 24 hr apart, also proved to be synergistically lethal for strain A mice, but not for R(III) animals studied comparatively. Sheep red blood cell lysates possessed the ability of the intact cells in forming lethal combinations for strain A mice with killed salmonellae. Strain A red blood cell-killed salmonellae complexes were also lethal for strain A mice, but less so then complexes made with sheep red blood cells. A x R(III) F(1) hybrid animals showed the same resistance characteristics as the resistant R(III) parental strain. Possible explanations for these findings are suggested, and their relevance to an immunological mode of action of endotoxin lethality is discussed.
Insights
Strain A mice are highly susceptible to endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Combining LPS with red blood cells or heat-killed bacteria creates a synergistic lethal effect in these mice, suggesting complex immune interactions.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Endotoxins, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), are potent immune stimulators.
- Mouse strain differences in susceptibility to endotoxins are well-documented.
- The interaction of endotoxins with cellular components requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the high susceptibility of Strain A mice to endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
- To examine the synergistic toxicity of endotoxin-red blood cell mixtures in mice.
- To explore the combined effects of red blood cells and bacterial components on mouse lethality.
Main Methods:
- Administering varying doses of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to different mouse strains.
- Creating and administering complexes of LPS with sheep red blood cells to Strain A mice.
- Administering sheep red blood cells and heat-killed Salmonella separately to Strain A and R(III) mice.
- Utilizing sheep red blood cell lysates in combination with killed Salmonella.
- Testing lethal combinations in Strain A mice, R(III) mice, and A x R(III) F(1) hybrid animals.
Main Results:
- Strain A mice exhibited significantly higher susceptibility to lethal effects of LPS compared to other strains.
- Sublethal quantities of LPS combined with sheep red blood cells demonstrated synergistic lethality in Strain A mice.
- Separate administration of sheep red blood cells and heat-killed Salmonella synergistically caused lethality in Strain A mice, but not R(III) mice.
- Sheep red blood cell lysates retained the ability to form lethal combinations with killed Salmonella for Strain A mice.
- Complexes of Strain A red blood cells with killed Salmonella were lethal, but less so than those with sheep red blood cells.
- A x R(III) F(1) hybrid mice displayed resistance patterns similar to the R(III) parental strain.
Conclusions:
- Strain A mice possess a unique high susceptibility to endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
- The combination of LPS with red blood cells or bacterial components can induce synergistic lethality, indicating complex immunological interactions.
- Genetic factors, as suggested by F(1) hybrid results, play a role in modulating endotoxin sensitivity and response.
