Factors Modifying Susceptibility to Bacterial Endotoxin: The Effect of Lead and Cadmium

Abstract

The current interest in the biologic activity of endotoxins and the factors modifying host response to bacterial endotoxins stem, in part, from the fact that endotoxemia is of increasing clinical concern.¹ It has been estimated that as many as 300, 000 patients are hospitalized each year due to Gram-negative bacteremia, and that the fatality rate of these patients may run as high as 30 to 50%.¹ Experimental models in which there is an induction of endotoxin hypersensitivity have been employed to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms essential for survival in endotoxemia. Factors modifying host response to endotoxin are also of interest from a toxicological point of view, since such studies may delineate potential, detrimental interaction of toxic environmental or clinically employed agents with endotoxins. Some of the diverse factors employed to induce sensitization of animals to endotoxins include carbon tetrachloride,² an attenuated strain ofMycobacterium, Bade Calmette Guérin,³ actinomycin D⁴: gluean,⁵ zymosan,⁶ and adrenalectomy.^{7, 8}