This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tanaka, A Articles by Kusumoto, S Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tanaka, A Articles by Kusumoto, S

Stimulation of the reticuloendothelial system of mice by muramyl dipeptide.

ABSTRACT

Muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a part of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycans, was active as adjuvant and stimulated the reticuloendothelial system (RES) of mice to increase its phagocytic function. A series of analogs of MDP was tested for their adjuvant activity and RES-stimulating activity. Sex differences were observed in the adjuvant activity and RES-stimulating capacity of some MDP analogs. A stereochemically highly specific structure required for MDP to exert adjuvant activity was also required for its RES-stimulating activity. Based on this close correlation among the structure, adjuvant activity, and RES-stimulating capacity of MDP, we infer that macrophages may play an important role in the expression of adjuvant activity of MDP.