title: Human peritoneal macrophage activity is increased by tuftsin.
abstract: Peritonitis caused by Candida albicans is a major complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Increasing the activity of the peritoneal macrophages--the predominant cell type found in the peritoneal cavity--may be of great importance in the prevention and therapy of peritonitis. Therefore, the activating effect of tuftsin was studied on human peritoneal macrophages from CAPD patients. Tuftsin induced a biphasic effect on macrophage activity within a range of 2 X 10(-9)-2 X 10(-6) M, with a maximal activity of 2 X 10(-7) M. At this concentration, tuftsin enhanced by twofold cell association with radiolabelled candida (from 2 +/- 0.2 to 4 +/- 0.2 candida per macrophage) and superoxide anion production in response to exposure to candida (from 150 +/- 20 to 300 +/- 20 nmoles/mg). These results suggest the potential use of tuftsin as a therapeutic drug.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Soroka University Hospital, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kain
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alkan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chaimovitz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fridkin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D013481:Superoxides / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014405:Tuftsin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013481:Superoxides; D014405:Tuftsin