[Biological activity of bacterial peptidoglycan (mucopeptide) (author's transl)].
A brief survey on the ultrastructure, the chemical composition and the immunological properties of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan (mucopeptide) is presented. This paper deals with the various recently discovered biological activities of peptidoglycan. These could be divided into three different groups, namely: 1. Endotoxin-like properties: pyrogenicity, induction of the local Shwartzman reaction, increase in non-specific resistance to bacterial infection, release of 5-hydroxytryptamine from rabbit platelets, complement activation,gelation of amebocyte lysate. 2. Inflammatory reactions of skin and internal organs, aggressin activity (virulence factor), inhibition of phagocytosis of bacteria by granulocytes and macrophages, inhibition of growth of cell cultures, cytotoxity to granulocytes and macrophages. 3. Potentiation of humoral and cellular immune responses (adjuvant), enhancement of tumor defense in experimental animals. The potential mechanisms of action of peptidoglycan are discussed and attention is focused on the implications of the various peptidoglycan activities for medicine.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001424:Bacterial Infections; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000032:analysis; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004731:Endotoxins; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation; D051379:Mice; D008967:Molecular Biology; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011749:Pyrogens; D011817:Rabbits; D012701:Serotonin; D012790:Shwartzman Phenomenon; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004731:Endotoxins; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D011749:Pyrogens; D012701:Serotonin; D003165:Complement System Proteins
Biologische Aktivität bakterieller Peptidoglycane (Mureine)