title: 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.
mesh_terms: D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000187:drug effects*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D012737:Sex Factors; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006020:Glycopeptides; D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine