Direct and mediated Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide action in primary hepatocyte cultures.

The biphasic behaviour observed in endotoxin-induced shock attributed to a direct interaction of bacterial lipopolysaccharides with the cell membrane and an indirect activation of multiple homeostatic regulatory mechanisms, cannot be completely elucidated with in vivo studies. In primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes, lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli 0111:B4 affects the cytochrome P450 levels directly; however, albumin and aspartate aminotransferase secretion are induced by some mediators present in the sera of animals in acute-phase shock.