Endotoxin shedding by enterobacteria: free and cell-bound endotoxin differ in Limulus activity

The endotoxin activities of gram-negative bacteria and their lipopolysaccharides (LPS) have been quantitated by a chromogenic Limulus amocbocyte lysate (CLAL) assay. When bacterial cell exposing various cell surface structures were compared, the highest Limulus activities were found in R strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium mutants. E. coli with K antigens did not differ from K-negative strains. By measuring beta-hydroxymyristic acid (3-OH tetradecanoic acid, beta-OHC14:0), it was possible to compare the CLAL activities of LPS bound to bacterial cells, LPS shed into the culture medium, and purified LPS. After 16 h of growth, the cell-free culture supernatants of three E. coli O1K1 strains and S. typhimurium showed CLAL activities 14.3 to 20.3 times higher than did the corresponding bacterial cell suspensions in relation to their beta-OHC14:0 contents. Four other E. coli strains (O serotypes O14, O24, and O75) and the S. typhimurium 395 R mutants MR5 and MR6 showed CLAL values 2.8 to 7.9 times higher in their culture supernatants. LPS of E. coli O1K1 and S. typhimurium had lower CLAL activities than the culture supernatants (1/10 and 1/4, respectively). Although the beta-OHC14:0 concentrations of the culture supernatants were approximately half those of the corresponding bacterial cells, all had CLAL values that were 2 to 21 times higher. The bacterial cell suspension, culture supernatant, and purified LPS of S. typhimurium MS were compared by CLAL assay and a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on monoclonal antibodies to the O5 antigen. Endotoxin shed into the culture medium was the most CLAL-active form of LPS, while purified LPS was the most antigen-active form. The results emphasize the importance of appropriate standards when quantifying endotoxin in various states. In conclusion, E. coli and S. typhimurium bacteria shed significant amounts of endotoxin into the surrounding medium during growth. This form of LPS is more CLAL active than the cell-bound or purified LPS.