Skip to main content

Lipopolysaccharides

Meaning

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are large molecules consisting of a lipid and a polysaccharide component that constitute the major part of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. In the context of human physiology, these molecules are potent endotoxins that trigger a significant and immediate inflammatory and immune response upon entering the systemic circulation. They are a primary marker of gut barrier dysfunction.