The effect of chlorination on endotoxic activity and immunotoxicity to human keratinocyte

摘要

Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), which are major components of outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria and cyanobacteria, are well known as bacterial agents to induce strong immunity reaction in human. LPSs are also called as endotoxin, which are used to mean their biological activity. Recently, endotoxin exposure by inhalation is highly concerned in association with severe airway inflammation1'. In water treatment process, many bacterial cells are inactivated by chlorination, but these inactivated bacteria and bacterial components, which exhibit endotoxic activities, are still remained in tap water. Sometimes endotoxic activity may be increased by multiplication or cell damages. In this study, the effect of chlorination on endotoxic activity was examined. Then, the natural river water and chlorinated river water were fractionated and concentrated, and the cytotoxic effects and the cytokine production by exposure to these fractions were also examined using human keratinocyte.