Lipopolysaccharide: Basic Biochemistry, Intracellular Signaling, and Physiological Impacts in the Gut.

Author: Sang Hoon RHEE ¹
Author Information

1. Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. shrhee@mednet.ucla.edu
Publication Type:Review
Keywords: Lipopolysaccharides; Toll-like receptors; Inflammatory bowel diseases
MeSH: Bacteria; Biochemistry*; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing; Homeostasis; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestines; Lipopolysaccharides; Membranes; Toll-Like Receptor 4; Toll-Like Receptors
From:Intestinal Research 2014;12(2):90-95
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a main constituent of Gram-negative bacterial membrane, specifically activates Toll-like receptor 4, leading to the production of pleiotropic cytokines/chemokines which in turn regulate inflammatory and innate and subsequent adaptive immune responses. Given that human gut harbors a large collection of commensal bacteria, LPS released by gut microbes is able to make the great impact on gut homeostasis through the intracellular signaling pathways engaged by host-microbial interaction. Emerging evidence indicates that LPS in the gut has a potency to elicit the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and necrotizing enterocolitis. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the basic biochemistry of LPS, LPS-induced intracellular signaling, and physiological impacts of LPS in the intestine.