Alteration of biological properties of bacterial lipopolysaccharide by calcium hydroxide treatment

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plays a major role in the development of periapical bone resorption. Although the chemical properties of LPS are altered by treatment with an alkali such as calcium hydroxide, the effects of calcium hydroxide on the biological properties of LPS are not known. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether treatment of LPS with calcium hydroxide alters its biological action as measured by human monocyte secretion of prostaglandin E2. Monocyte cell cultures were stimulated with LPS or calcium hydroxide-treated LPS and culture supernatants were analyzed for prostaglandin E2 content using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Prostaglandin E2 was identified in supernatants of LPS-stimulated monocytes but not in those stimulated with calcium hydroxide-treated LPS. It was concluded that the treatment with calcium hydroxide may alter biological properties of bacterial LPS.