Selective induction of metabolic activation programs in peritoneal macrophages by lipopolysaccharide substructures.

Abstract The structural elements of Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharides (LPS) that are able to stimulate peritoneal macrophages to produce increased amounts of prostaglandin E2, ornithine, and citrulline, agents known to modulate immune responses, are described. Two different incomplete lipid A structures which lack the carbohydrate portion, the nonhydroxylated fatty acids lauric acid and myristic acid (lipid A precursor IB), and additional palmitic acid (lipid A precursor IA) stimulated increased prostaglandin E2 synthesis but were unable to augment ornithine and citrulline production at concentrations of up to 0.5 microgram/ml. Acyl-deficient smooth LPS containing lipid A precursors IA and IB substituted by the complete carbohydrate region were able to augment prostaglandin E2 and ornithine production but failed, even at a high concentration (0.5 microgram/ml), to stimulate citrulline production. Moreover, Re glycolipids and smooth intact LPS containing the lipid A region with 3-acyloxyacyl residues possessed all of the structural requirements to induce increased prostaglandin E2, ornithine, and citrulline synthesis. Finally, all of the LPS structures, including lipid A precursors IA and IB stimulated, in combination with gamma interferon, production of citrulline with similar efficiencies. These results demonstrate that LPS contains various substructures including regions of the carbohydrate and lipid A structure that can deliver signals for the activation of peritoneal macrophages. Signals for partial activation of macrophages to produce prostaglandins and ornithine can be delivered by acyl-deficient LPS structures. In contrast, full activation of macrophages to produce citrulline requires an additional signal that is delivered by 3-acyloxyacyl residues of the lipid A region or gamma interferon.