title: Assessment of pyrogenic response of lipoteichoic acid by the monocyte activation test and the rabbit pyrogen test.
abstract: Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is a non-endotoxin pyrogen of a great importance in the pathogenesis of sepsis. The Rabbit Pyrogen Test (RPT) is able to detect all types of pyrogens but involves the use of animals. The Bacterial Endotoxin Test (BET) cannot fully replace the RPT because it only detects endotoxins. The Monocyte Activation Test (MAT) is sensitive to all types of pyrogens and it is based on the same biological mechanism that is responsible for the fever reaction in humans. Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) has recommended its use for other pyrogens than endotoxin because its equivalence to RPT can be demonstrated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pyrogenic responses of the RPT and MAT that was induced by LTA. Different LTA concentrations were assayed by the MAT in parallel to the RPT. The results showed that the MAT was more sensitive than the RPT, demonstrating that the MAT detected LTA. This result may contribute to the acceptance of this test by the Brazilian regulatory agencies as a replacement for the animals used in the RPT.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Quality Control in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Brasil 4365, 21040-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: izabela.gimenes@incqs.fiocruz.br.
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gimenes
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Quality Control in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Brasil 4365, 21040-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: cristiane.caldeira@incqs.fiocruz.br.
authors.forename: Cristiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caldeira
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Quality Control in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Brasil 4365, 21040-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: octavio.presgrave@incqs.fiocruz.br.
authors.forename: Octavio Augusto França
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Presgrave
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Quality Control in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Brasil 4365, 21040-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: wlamir.moura@incqs.fiocruz.br.
authors.forename: Wlamir Correa
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: de Moura
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Quality Control in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Brasil 4365, 21040-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: maria.villas@incqs.fiocruz.br.
authors.forename: Maria Helena Simões
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Villas Boas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D011749:Pyrogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011749:Pyrogens; D013682:Teichoic Acids; C009900:lipoteichoic acid
keywords: Alternative methods; Gram-positive bacteria; Human cryopreserved whole blood; Lipoteichoic acid; Monocyte activation test; Rabbit pyrogen test; Sanitary surveillance