title: Causes and consequences of low grade endotoxemia and inflammatory diseases.
abstract: Increasing clinical observations reveal that persistent low-grade inflammation is associated with the pathogenesis of severe chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and aging-related neurological diseases. Intriguingly, low levels of circulating Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) appear to be one of the key culprits in provoking a non-resolving low-grade inflammation. Adverse life styles, chronic infection, and aging can all contribute to the rise of circulating endotoxin levels and lead to low-grade endotoxemia. As a consequence, low-grade endotoxemia may skew host immune environment into a mild non-resolving pro-inflammatory state, which eventually leads to the pathogenesis and progression of inflammatory diseases. This review aims to highlight the recent progress in the causes and consequences of low-grade endotoxemia, as well as the emerging molecular mechanisms responsible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA.
authors.forename: Trevor G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Glaros
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Gilliam
authors.forename: Urmila
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Maitra
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Liwu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides