Bactericidal/permeability-increasing Protein (BPI) and Lipopolysaccharide-binding Protein (LBP): Structure, Function and Regulation in Host Defence Against Gram-negative Bacteria

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) are closely related endotoxin-binding proteins that function in a co-ordinated manner to facilitate an integrated host response to invading Gram-negative bacteria. Differences in the structure and function of BPI and LBP, as well as differences in their mobilization, permit highly sensitive pro-inflammatory responses to small numbers of bacteria at the onset of bacterial invasion and, later, efficient elimination of viable bacteria and their remnants and of endotoxin-driven inflammation.