How does peripheral lipopolysaccharide induce gene expression in the brain of rats?

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the principal cell-wall component of gram-negative bacteria, is responsible for alterations in the central and peripheral tissues associated with gram-negative infections. However, the mechanism by which peripheral LPS cause central effects is not fully known. This study showed that peripheral LPS sequentially increased IL-1β and iNOS mRNA levels, NO₂ level, and CRF mRNA level in the hypothalamic PVN, and corticosterone concentration in blood. Brain-endothelium, but not hypothalamic PVN samples, from LPS injected rats contained ions for LPS lipids, bound BODIPY-LPS (bLPS), and expressed TLR-4, TLP-2 and CD14 mRNAs. This suggests that (1) LPS does not cross the blood-brain barrier, and (2) brain-endothelial cells contain LPS binding sites, TLR-4, TLR-2 and CD14. Systemic LPS injection increased [¹⁴C]sucrose uptake, but did not affect [¹⁴C]dextran uptake into the brain. Thus, when injected systemically, LPS binds to its receptor and enter the endothelial cells where it increase BBB permeation in a mass-selective manner and triggers a series of signaling events leading to the development of inflammatory response in the brain.