Bacterial Endotoxins: Relationships Between Chemical Structure and Biological Activity

Bacterial endotoxins induce in higher organisms a great number of different acute pathophysiological effects such as fever, hypotension, leukopenia followed by leukocytosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and, in higher doses, irreversible shock (Galanos et al, 1977). In view of the obvious similarity between these biological effects and the symptoms of gram-negative bacteremia, endotoxins (released from multiplying or disintegrating bacteria), these appear to be important causative agents of certain manifestations of sepsis. Because of their pathogenic role, endotoxins have (for several decades) received worldwide scientific attention, research having been and being performed with the aim to immunologically or pharmacologically control endotoxicosis.