The effect of lipopolysaccharide structure on the synthetic activity of human lymphocytes

Abstract

258 Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major component of the outer membrane of Gramnegative bacteria. It activates monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils, which may lead to an uncontrolled immune response. To prevent hyperactivation of the target cell, it is nec� essary to know the mechanisms which can be influ� enced, thereby preventing the development of patho� logical process. For a long time it was believed that human lymphocytes, unlike B cells in mice, are not activated in response to LPS. Studies in the last few years showed that LPS is able to stimulate prolifera� tion of T cells in the presence of monocytes. The acti� vation of lymphocytes by lipopolysaccharides (endot� oxins) is associated with direct contact of the CD28 receptor on responsive T cells with the B7 receptor on monocytes (1), which is indicative of a relationship