title: Stimulation of migration of human monocytes by bacterial cell walls and muramyl peptides.
abstract: Bacterial cell walls, water-soluble fragments of the wall peptidoglycan, N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP), and 6-O-acyl derivatives of MDP were examined for migration-stimulating activity on human peripheral blood monocytes by using a multiwell chemotaxis assembly. Cell walls isolated from 11 bacterial species caused a definite increase in monocyte migration, but the walls of Micrococcus lysodeikticus were scarely active. The migration-enhancing activity of Staphylococcus epidermidis cell walls was retained by a monomer as well as a polymer of disaccharide peptides which were prepared by digestion of the peptidoglycan with enzymes. It was finally revealed that the migration of monocytes was enhanced by MDP. 6-O-Octadecanoyl-MDP, 6-O-(2-tetradecylhexadecanoyl)-MDP, and 6-O-(3-hydroxy-2-docosylhexacosanoyl)-N-acetylmuramyl-L-seryl-D-isoglutamine were active, but to a lesser extent. A checkerboard assay demonstrated that the increased monocyte migration caused by S. epidermidis cell walls was directed toward a positive stimulus (chemotaxis).
mesh_terms: D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000502:physiology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009615:Nocardia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D010457:Peptidoglycan; D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine