Reticuloendothelial system phagocytic function in obstructive jaundice and its modification by a muramyl dipeptide analogue.
Measurement of reticulo-endothelial system (RES) phagocytic function by clearance of intravenous micro-aggregated human albumin (HMAA) showed prolonged clearance in both patients (p less than 0.001) and rats (p less than 0.001) with extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction compared with non-jaundiced controls. After the administration of the immune stimulator, N-acetyl-L-alpha-aminobutyryl-D-isoglutamine, the mean HMAA clearance rate in jaundiced animals was similar to that of non-jaundiced controls. The implications of modifying RES phagocytic function to prevent overspill of endotoxins from the portal to systemic circulation in obstructive jaundice are discussed.
D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000368:Aged; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D051381:Rats; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000418:Albumins; D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine