Endotoxin inactivation by the humoral components in the tolerant rat serum

A rapid inactivation of endotoxin has shown to occur following its incubation in serum obtained from endotoxin-tolerant rats with the aid of the limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. The tolerant rat had large quantities of lipopolysaccharide inhibitor (LPSI) activity, which does not appear to be complement. Heating tolerant rat serum for 60 min at 56 degrees C or the addition of lead acetate to the tolerant serum both resulted in the loss of LPSI activity. This paper focuses on the most unique properties of LPSI, namely it's alteration of activity after heating or the addition of lead acetate, compared with those properties of inhibitors for endotoxin which have been previously demonstrated by a number of investigators.