The binding of LPS to the lymphocyte surface.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli labelled with tritium has been used to follow the binding of LPS to lymphocytes. Binding to cells rose to a maximum 2-7 min after addition of [3H]-LPS, followed by loss of [3H]-LPS from cells, reducing to about 10% of the peak level at 20-30 min. Peripheral blood lymphocytes, mesenteric lymph node and thymus cells of the pig and CBA, C3H/He and C3H/HeJ mouse spleen cells all bound [3H]-LPS transiently at similar levels. It is concluded that this type of LPS binding cannot be solely responsible for the preferential stimulation of B cells by LPS.