title: Identification and characterization of lipopolysaccharide in acetic acid bacteria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major component of the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria, was one of the main components of Coley's vaccine and is known to have strong adjuvanticity. Though it is known that LPS exists in the digestive tract of organisms, the biological significance for the organism has not been clarified. In this study, the correlation between the structure and function of LPS was determined using acetic acid bacteria. These are Gram-negative bacteria consumed in human diets.
  
  
  METHODS
  Extracts were obtained from a strain of acetic acid bacteria which is used for producing vinegar. Determination of the LPS neutralizing activity was carried out by the Limulus test. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and nitric oxide (NO) production were then observed after the addition of the extracts to murine monocyte macrophages (RAW264. 7), with or without Polymyxin B. TNF production in peritoneal macrophages derived from LPS-low responsive mice (C3H/HeJ) was studied after the addition of extracts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extracts were shown to be positive only in LPS-specific Limulus test and were negative in the (1,3)-beta-D-glucan-specific Limulus test. Both extracts induced NO and TNF production in RAW264. 7 cells, but this was inhibited by the presence of Polymyxin B. TNF production was inhibited in peritoneal macrophages from LPS low-responsive mice (C3H/HeJ).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LPS with macrophage-activating activity is present in acetic acid bacteria, routinely consumed by humans.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Nishihama, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima-shi, 770-8514.
authors.forename: Yoshie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kouhchi
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inagawa
authors.forename: Takatoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Gen-Ichiro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soma
mesh_terms: D000091:Acetobacter / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011112:Polymyxin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011112:Polymyxin B