A comparative study of [Leu1]Tuftsin and tuftsin, a natural phagocytosis-stimulating peptide

Immunomodulatory properties of new conjugates of muramyl dipeptide and nor-muramyl dipeptide with retro-tuftsin (Arg-Pro-Lys-Thr-OMe)

Six new conjugates of muramyl dipeptide and nor-muramyl dipeptide with retro-tuftsin were synthesised at Gdansk University of Technology. All compounds were investigated at Medical University of Gdansk. Their immunomodulatory properties were assessed using in vitro cultures of human subpopulations of white blood cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells, peripheral blood lymphocytes, monocytes). We examined the viability of blood cells incubated with examined conjugates, as well as their ability to stimulate secretion of cytokines (TNFalpha--tumour necrosis factor alpha, IL6--interleukin 6) and cytotoxic activity of NK (Natural Killer) cells. Complementation in biological activity of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and tuftsin in conjugates proved to be beneficial in the field of immunoadjuvanticity. Our investigations proved that new conjugates acquired features that native immunomodulators did not reveal separately. In examined compound, the part responsible for inducing cytotoxic activity of NK cells was the tuftsin part of the conjugates. MDP in conjugates was responsible for compound-induced synthesis of TNFalpha. The results of our study imply usefulness of the examine compounds (mainly A and B), as potential therapeutic agents.

Tuftsin: on the 30-year anniversary of Victor Najjar's discovery

After a short description of the results of Victor Najjar's research on tuftsin and of the discoveries done by other authors in the early stage of tuftsin investigation, the current state of work on tuftsin is presented, based mainly on the literature published in the years 1984-1997. The presentation follows this order: the occurrence of tuftsin and retro-tuftsin sequences in proteins, their synthesis and biology, the antigenic properties of tuftsin, its influence on phagocytic cells, and other biologic activities of tuftsin, including antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor and central effects, and the search for tuftsin superactive analogs.