Introduction
Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an amphiphilic biopolymer which contains hydrophilic (O-specific chains, core oligosaccharide) and hydrophobic (A lipid) fragments. It influences the macroorganism by stimulating leucocytes, thrombocytes and endothelial cells, increasing of interleukine producing, tumour necrosis factor α, and number of other mediators. LPS also makes it evident in activation of a complement system and clotting factor, which may cause disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, endotoxic shock and acute multiple organ failure [1, 2].
Pathogenic features of LPS depend not only on its chemical structure, they are significantly determined by a 3D-organization of supramolecular complexes produced by an LPS molecule with various components of biofluids [3].
An actual aim is to find a possibility to reduce pathogenic effects of bacterial LPS. In order to reduce a LPS toxicity and pathogenic effect different chemical substances are used (cation amphiphilic molecules, synthetic peptides, polyamines, non-toxic polysaccharide chitosan), which causes producing macromolecular complexes [4-6]. Today it is proved a modifying effect of a low-intensity radiation of red and violet spectrum areas on a process of a bacterial LPS structuring in water suspension and normal saline [7]. However, changing of LPS self-organization capability by producing of macromolecular complexes under electromagnetic radiation of ultra-wave part of the spectrum, has not studied yet.
Aim: to study a modifying effect of a low-intensity radiation of 1 GHz frequency on a structuring capability of bacterial LPS.
Material and methods
LPS E.coli 055: В5 (Sigma, USA) was used in the study. LPS was cut ex tempore with a 0.9% normal saline (20 mg/ml). The suspension (2 ml) was divided into 2 probes: one of them exposed by a 10-minute electromagnetic radiation (1 GHz, power density 0.1 µW/cm²) and a control one. Radiation was performed by «Akvaton-2» apparatus (Telemak Inc., Saratov, Russia). The irradiator horn was placed 10 cm from the object.
To study the process of spontaneous LPS structuring there was used method of cone dehydratation [8] based on studuing of a structural facies formed after a drop of preparation drying in standard conditions. 1 µl of a studied suspension (control probe) was placed on a dry, clean and defatted object-plate. For a comparative analysis 6-8 drops have been usually placed. Next the object-plate with the preparation was put into an incubator in a dead-level position and dried at 37ºC during 30 minutes. Experimental preparations had been prepared analogically with the control probes.
After drying, preparations came under a microscopic study. Light microscopy with a photorecording of a structural facies and saving information in the computer (Zeiss, Germany). Image-analysis of facies included qualitative characteristics and calculation of quantitative indices followed by a statistical processing.
In facies processing a special computer program was used, and the following parameters had been calculated: S1 – peripheral rim area normalized to the total facies area: S2 – intermediate zone area normalized to the total facies area; S3 – central zone area normalized to the total facies area; S1/S2 – decentration of an intermediate zone relative to facies rim center; S2/S3 – decentration of a central zone relative to facies rim center. In the central and intermediate facies zones had been calculated: N – a number of combs in a typical facies fragment; Average size (AS) – an average size of combs in a typical facies fragment; Entr. – irregularity of facies surface in a typical fragment; D corr. - correlation dimension of a typical fragment.
Quantitative parameters had been statistically processed with arithmetical mean (M) calculation and its error (m) using statistical software package Prizm-4. Statistical significance of averages had been calculated by Student’s t-test. The difference was significant at р<0.05.
Results
Pattern of facies, getting after dehydration of a non-irradiated LPS suspension in normal saline, distinguished by a variety of structural elements. Here three zones had been directly visualized: elevated rim around facies (peripheral zone), para-rim (or intermediate zone) and central areas (Figure 1).
The rim had a slight structuring, and only in some of its areas there were small lumpy formations. The para-rim zone took a small part of a facies area and was characterized by a presence of small line dendritic and ferny elements (Figure 1A). In the central zone large treeng elements had been revealed, contained linear frame axis with 90º branches (Figure 1B).
The low-intensity electromagnetic radiation of the LPS suspension caused a significant modification of a structuring process. A typical change in a facies picture was noticed: space allocation density in the para-rim zone had increased, their structural finess reduced (Figure 1C). The linear dendritic elements in the central zone had been significantly reduced in size, so, this facies area was almost homogeneous (Figure 1D). In close proximity to the para-rim zone there had been radial elements with a wavy axial directional line and its short branch lines on various angles (Figure 1C).
A
B
C
D
Figure 1. Influence of UHF-radiation on a structuring of bacterial LPS in a normal saline: A – control, peripheral and para-rim areas; B – control, central area; C – UHF-radiation, peripheral and para-rim areas; D – UHF-radiation, central area.
Figure 2. Changes of quantitative parameters of facies of bacterial LPS after UHF-radiation; control – 100%.
The results of the quantitative processing of facies after cone dehydratation of LPS suspension in the control probe and after the ultra high frequency (UHF) radiation are presented in the Figure 2.
As we an see from the picture, a low-intensity radiation of 1 GHz frequency caused changes in reference dimensions of facies areas: peripheral and para-rim zones were reduced (p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively), while the central area size had increased by 20% (p<0.01). After the UHF-radiation the number of comb objects in the central and para-rim facies areas had increased about by 2 times (p<0.05). However their average size did not suffer evident changes. The Entr. parameter, characterized structural inhomogeneity of the central facies zone (p<0.05), had increased by 1.2 times on this background, and the Entr. parameter of the para-rim area ahd increased by 32% (p<0.02). Structuredness (correlation dimensionality) of the both analysed zones had statistically changed (p<0.02).
Discussion
The results of the given experiments show that the low-intensity radiation of 1 GHz frequency and the 0.1 µW/cm² power density, going on for 10 min, causes changes in “LPS – normal saline” system. These changes impact on a structuring kinetics. The 1 GHz frequency coincides to a natural frequency of a water cluster variation [9], and, probably, the UHF-radiation effect on a LPS structuring is mediated by the change of a salt-water media. In these conditions hydration properties of water molecules change, and, probably, properties of hydrophobic and hydrophilic areas in the LPS molecule, which may impact on the property of toxin molecule to produce aggregates. Whereas, modification of a lipopolysaccharide structure may cause change of its toxic properties. The proving is the recent study in which there had been displayed that irradiation of the bacterial LPS by the low-intensity laser red emission had modified spontaneous process of structuring in vitro, and also reduced pathogenic LPS effects in vivo, decreasing activity of thrombocytes, leucocytes and endothelial cells. The irradiation reduces also evidence of microcirculatory defects developing after endotoxin ingressing into the systemic circulation [10].
Conclusion
The fact of a possible reducing of pathogenic effects of bacterial endotoxin exposed by physical impacts, perhaps, shows changes in architectonics of a toxic molecule, the changes reflect on the LPS capability to produce supermolecular complexes determining its ability to interact with biosubstrate.
Conflict of interests: none declared.
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Original Text © Brill G.E., Egorova A.V., Bugaeva I.O., Dubovitsky S.A., Vlaskin S.V., 2013, published in Saratov Journal of Medical Scientific Research 2013; 9(4): 637–640.
Correspondence to Anna V. Egorova. Phone: +79172106980. E-mail: AV_Egorova @bk.ru