Abstract
Previous studies have suggested that immaturity of the gastrointestinal barrier of young animals may lead to increased uptake of potentially toxic macromolecules. To further extend these observations, we have studied the binding of endotoxin (E. Coli 026: B6) to immature (crypt) and mature (villus) small intestinal epithelial cells of 2 week old and adult rats. Endotoxin was radiolabeled with 51Cr, and its concentration measured using a hexose assay. Cells were obtained from the small intestine in a gradient from villus to crypt using the modified method of Weiser. Binding was studied by incubating endotoxin with the cells. The endotoxin binding was found to be concentration-dependent and saturable, suggesting receptor, not nonspecific, binding. Endotoxin was incubated with immature crypt cells and mature villus cells of 2 week old rats at concentrations ranging from 5-100 μg of endotoxin/ml and at a cell protein concentration of .2 mg/ml. Approximately two times as much endotoxin bound to crypt as to villus cells. Preliminary binding experiments with epithelial cells from adult rats also show differences in endotoxin binding to crypt versus villus cells. These studies suggest that the surface of the immature cell has different binding properties for this potential toxin. The increased binding may place the immature host at a greater risk for enteric infection.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Newman, A., Pang, K., Udall, J. et al. ENDOTOXIN BINDING TO EPITHELIAL CELLS OF THE SMALL INTESTINE. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 143 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00300
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00300