Biological and clinical effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide

It is now known that the toxic principal in Gramnegative bacteria responsible for the generation of septic shock is lipopolysaccharide (LPS), since both it and purified lipid A induce the same pathophysiological changes when injected into experimental animals. These effects are not caused directly by LPS but by its interaction with host cells, complement, and coagulation factors resulting in the release of pro-inflammatory mediators.