Effect of Immune Serum or Polymyxin B on Escherichia coli -Induced Inflammation and Vascular Injury

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Abstract
Injection of killed E. coli treated with immune serum elicited a reaction (in rabbits) which had a smaller increase in vascular permeability (protein exudation), measured with 125I-labeled albumin, less increase in blood flow, measured with 86RbCl, less leukocyte infiltration, measured with 51Cr-labeled leukocytes and a lesser degree of hemorrhage, measured with 59Fe-labeled erythrocytes, than E. coli treated with nonimmune serum. Crossover experiments with 4 different E. coli serotypes and 4 different antisera indicated that antibody to specific O antigens or a related antigen, but not to K or H antigen, was important for modifying the inflammatory response. Treatment of 4 different E. coli serotypes with antiserum to core glycolipid, produced by immunization with the E. coli J5 mutant, inhibited the inflammatory response to all 4 E. coli serotypes. Treatment of killed E. coli with polymyxin B also inhibited their inflammation-inducing potential. Thus, it may be possible to diminish the magnitude of local vascular and tissue injury associated with E. coli infections by the use of antisera or polymyxin B, which bind to endotoxin on the E. coli.