[Bile acids and endotoxins: physico-chemical defense of the body]

The toxic effects of endotoxin--the cell wall component of Gram negative intestinal bacteria--under experimental conditions can be induced only when they are administered parenterally. However, in naturally occurring enteroendotoxemic diseases (e.g. septic and various shocks, etc.), the endotoxin absorbs from the intestinal tract. The cause and mode of translocation was unknown. The generally used experimental shock models differ from natural diseases only in the mode by which endotoxin enters the blood circulation. If the common bile ducts of rats were chronically cannulated (bile deprived animals) perorally administered endotoxin was absorbed from the intestinal canal into blood circulation and provoked endotoxin shock. The translocation of endotoxins and consequent shock can be prevented by sodium deoxycholate or natural biles. The bile acids can split the endotoxin macromolecule (atoxic fragments). A similar destructive detergent action might will be a significant factor against potential infectious agents with lipoprotein outer structure (e.g. so-called "big" viruses). This defense mechanism of macrooganisms based on the detergent activity of bile acids is called as physico-chemical defense system. On the basis of this knowledge the bile acids might be used in the prevention and therapy of some clinical processes (e.g. hepatorenal syndrome; psoriasis).