Hyperlipidemic response to endotoxin--a part of the host-defence mechanism.

Endotoxin administration into experimental animals leads to an acute hyperlipidemic response. In addition, lipoproteins can inhibit various biological activities of endotoxin both in vitro and in vivo. The endotoxin-binding and endotoxin-inactivating abilities of lipoproteins, as well as the plasma levels of lipoproteins, are thus increased following endotoxin administration. The endotoxin-induced hyperlipoproteinemia may not only represent the consequence of endotoxemia, but may also be a physiological defence mechanism whereby the body attempts to combat the toxic effects of circulating endotoxin. This minireview discusses the interaction between lipoproteins and endotoxin, and the role of this acute hyperlipidemic response to endotoxin in the context of the host-defence mechanism.