INHIBITORY EFFECT OF GLUCOCORTICOID ON COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION INDUCED BY LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 9  (1) , 55-62
Abstract
Endotoxic lipopolysaccharide is verified to activate complement, which seems to be 1 of the major pathogenic processes of septic shock; glucocorticoid antagonizes this endotoxic manifestation in a dose-related manner. How lipopolysaccharide activates complement in vitro and how glucocorticoid affects the interaction between them were elucidated. In vitro, complement was consumed in proportion to the dose of lipopolysaccharide added. Glucocorticoids inhibit the complement activation by lipopolysaccharide in a dose-related manner in vitro; the dose that inhibits endotoxic complement activation by 50% was almost the same for hydrocortisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone. Thus, lipopolysaccharide seemingly activates complement in a dose-related manner and glucocorticoids inhibit this activation in a dose-related manner; this may be the main antiendotoxic property of glucocorticoids.