ASSAY FOR LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE ANTAGONISTS

摘要

An assay is disclosed for the identification and screening of antagonists that inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mediated stimulation of cytokine production in tissue cells. LPS is a bacterial cell wall component which, when released into the circulation of a host animal, can induce a cascade of biological events that lead to the physical symptoms of gram-negative sepsis. The assay described is targeted to identify compounds that inhibit LPS mediated activation of tissue cells, such as U373 human astrocytoma cells, which are negative for an LPS receptor protein, such as CD14. The assay is conducted in the absence of serum. This way, the LPS antagonist properties of test compounds are evaluated and quantified without concern of interference from serum factors.