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A possible interaction of immunomodulator muramyl dipeptide (MDP) with 5-HT4 and 5-HT1A receptors was investigated. The activation of 5-HT4 receptors releases acetylcholine from nerve terminals, thereby contracting the guinea-pig distal ileum. The whole ileum segments were therefore cut and placed into the bath. The preparations were contracted by 5-HT (10 nM-3.2 microM); these contractions were totally abolished in the presence of atropine (1 microM) and significantly attenuated in the presence of SDZ-205,557 (320 nM). The 5-HT evoked contractions remained unchanged in the presence of MDP (5, 50 or 500 nM). MDP (l0 nM-3.2 microM) could not directly contract the preparations. In further experiments, the possible interaction of MDP with 5-HT1A receptors was investigated. The activation of 5-HT1A receptors inhibits the release of acetylcholine from nerve terminals, thereby decreasing the height of electrically evoked neurogenic twitches of guinea-pig ileum. The whole ileum segments were cut, placed into the bath and stimulated electrically. Selective 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) decreased the height of twitches and this effect was significantly attenuated in the presence of 5-HT antagonist metergoline (1 microM). The effect of 8-OH-DPAT remained unchanged in the presence of MDP (5, 50 or 500 nM). MDP (10 nM-3.2 microM) did not exert any direct effect on the preparations. These results suggest that MDP interacts with neither 5-HT4 nor 5-HT1A receptors.

A possible interaction of immunomodulator muramyl dipeptide (MDP) with 5-HT(7) (5-hydroxytryptamine) receptors was investigated. The activation of 5-HT(7) receptors relaxes the guinea-pig distal ileum. The whole ileum segments were, therefore, cut and placed into the bath. The preparations were precontracted by substance P and potently relaxed by adding incremental concentrations of 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) (0.01-3.2 microM), less potently by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (1-100 microM). The preparations most sensitive to 5-CT were also relaxed by MDP (1-100 microM). Noncumulative concentration-response curves (CRCs) for 5-HT or 5-CT were established in the absence or presence of 5-HT antagonist metergoline (320 nM). Metergoline inhibited the relaxations and shifted the CRCs to the right. In the preparations most sensitive to the effects of both 5-CT and metergoline, the latter substance also inhibited the effect of the highest concentration (100 microM) in CRCs for MDP. In another type of experiments, CRCs for 5-HT or 5-CT were constructed in the presence of low concentrations of MDP (5-500 nM). The relaxations evoked by either drug remained unchanged. These results suggest that low concentrations of MDP do not interact with activation of 5-HT(7) receptors. In higher concentrations MDP acts on this receptor type as a very weak partial agonist.

Immunomodulator muramyl dipeptide (MDP) exerts also pronounced neuropharmacological activities which are probably mediated by an interaction with 5-HT receptors. Some of these effects are considered as undesirable by its clinical use. More precise information concerning MDP effects on 5-HT receptors with respect to their many subtypes could result from studies using isolated organs in vitro. Earlier conducted studies of this type provided data that are concisely overviewed and reinterpreted here from the view of current 5-HT receptor classification. Since new 5-HT receptor types have emerged recently, new studies are under way. The results might contribute to the development of novel immunomodulatory drugs devoid of adverse effects.

Adamantylamide dipeptide (AdDP), muramyl dipeptide (MDP), and glucan were shown to increase significantly the numbers of granulocyte-macrophage hemopoietic progenitor cells (GM-CFC) in the bone marrow of mice. However, whereas the sera of mice given MDP or glucan were found to stimulate the growth of colonies from GM-CFC in vitro, i.e. to produce a colony-stimulating activity (CSA), administration of AdDP did not lead to this effect. Nevertheless, when serum of mice given AdDP was added to the cultures concomitantly with a suboptimal concentration of mouse interleukin-3 (mIL-3), a broad spectrum hemopoietic stimulator, counts of colonies from GM-CFC were significantly increased, and accelerated growth of the colonies was found as well. This property of AdDP, i.e. its ability to exhibit co-stimulating activity (CoSA) without being able to exhibit CSA, suggests that AdDP acts in hemopoietic tissues differently as compared with the two other immunomodulators studied. It can be hypothesized that the action of AdDP is more specific when compared with its natural related compound, MDP, as well as with glucan. Our findings prove the possibility to stimulate by AdDP the granulopoietic compartment of hemopoiesis and are in agreement with previous observations concerning the absence of systemic side effects of AdDP. Both these qualities of AdDP may be advantageous when pondering over contingent clinical utilization of AdDP as hemopoietic stimulator.

The mode of interaction between muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a compound with immunopharmacological activities, and 5-hydroxtryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) was studied in isolated nerve-smooth muscle preparations of the carp stomach. Application of exogenous 5-HT evoked direct smooth muscle contractions; electric neurogenic stimulation evoked twitches due to release of 5-HT from nerve endings. Contractions evoked by a high concentration of 5-HT (3-30 microM) were resistant to atropine and potentiated in the presence of MDP. Isamoltan (5-HTID antagonist) decreased the amplitude of contractions, whereas ketanserin (5-HT2 antagonist) and MDL 72,222 (5-HT3 antagonist) had no effect. The addition of low concentrations (0.1-1.5 microM) of 5-HT did not contract the preparation but caused a decrease in the amplitude of neurogenic twitches, which might be due to the presynaptic inhibition of serotonin release. This effect of 5-HT was not changed by isamoltan or ketanserin, but it was largely reduced in the presence of 5-HT3 antagonists tropisetron and MDL 72,222. This inhibitory effect of 5-HT on twitch amplitude was potentiated by MDP. The interaction of MDP with the serotonergic system thus involved not only potentiation of the postsynaptic effect of higher 5-HT concentrations, which might have been mediated via the 5-HT1 subsystem, but also presynaptic inhibition. MDP enhancement of 5-HT's inhibitory effect, mediated via 5-HT3 receptors, might represent a new feature in mutual 5-HT-MDP interactions.

The mode of action of muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a compound with immunopharmacological properties, was studied in isolated nerve smooth muscle preparations with different receptor systems. The amplitudes of contractions evoked directly by stimulants as well as neurogenic twitches or relaxations were registered. In the rat stomach strip EC50 of acetylcholine, serotonin (5-HT) and KCl was estimated. MDP (50 nmol/l) but not levamisole potentiated selectively the contractions evoked by 5-HT and significantly (p < 0.01) lowered the respective EC50. In the rat vas deferens MDP selectively potentiated the twitches enhanced by 5-HT but not those enhanced by noradrenaline. Such potentiation was blocked by 5-HT3 antagonists tropisetron and MDL 72,222 (1 alpha H,3 alpha,5 alpha-H-tropan-3-yl 3,5-dichlorobenzoate) but not by the 5-HT2 antagonist ketanserin. The antagonist methiothepin nonselectively abolished the potentiation by MDP as well as the enhancement of twitches by 5-HT and noradrenaline, whereas l-propranolol and isamoltan influenced neither the enhancement of twitches by 5-HT nor the potentiation by MDP. In the isolated longitudinal muscle of guinea pig proximal colon, 5-HT caused a biphasic response in the presence of atropine; the initial neurogenic relaxation was potentiated in the presence of MDP and was suppressed in the presence of tropisetron. Thus, the potentiating effect of MDP in the isolated organs studied was selective with respect to the serotoninergic system and might be mediated by 5-HT3 receptors.

Acute, fully reversible paw edema was produced in mice after systemic administration of muramyl dipeptide (MDP, i.e. N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine). Its stereoisomer N-acetylmuramyl-D-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP-D,D) was much less effective. The swelling of paws occurred very soon (1 h) after MDP injection, reached the maximum severity at an interval of 6 h and declined afterwards. While no substantial quantitative differences were found in the sensitivity of the various inbred strains of mice to edemagenic activity of MDP, athymic nude mice were completely resistant to the induction of edema. Formation of edema was blocked by silica, indomethacin (partially also by nordihydroguaiaretic acid), monoclonal antibodies against T-cells and their TH-subpopulation. It is suggested that the MDP-induced edema is a macrophage- and T-cell-dependent, prostaglandin- (and partially leukotriene)-mediated acute reaction associated with increased vascular permeability. Possible engagement of immune/inflammatory cytokines like IL-1 has been discussed. The data support the view that this type of edema is a consequence of changes in the activity of important cellular components of the immune system.

The changes in delayed hypersensitivity in guinea pigs stimulated by muramyl dipeptide (MDP) after administration of agonists or antagonists of neurotransmitter systems were studied. Muramyl dipeptide was given in Freund's incomplete adjuvant three weeks before administration of drugs and antigen. Pretreatment with methiotepine, haloperidol and clonidine increased, while lisuride, apomorphine and yohimbine decreased the reaction of delayed hypersensitivity. These results suggest that serotonergic, dopaminergic as well as presynaptic alpha-receptors might have an inhibitory effect on cell-mediated immunity.

The incorporation of equimolar doses of [14C]-palmitic and [3H]-oleic acids into the lipid moiety of hepatocytes after muramyl dipeptide (MDP), adamantylamide dipeptide (AdDP) and levamisole (LM) administration were investigated. The utilization of [14C]-palmitic acid for the synthesis of neutral lipids and phospholipids of crude nuclear fraction increased significantly after MDP and AdDP administration and to a lesser extent after LM. While the incorporation of [3H]-oleic acid did not change significantly after MDP and AdDP, LM significantly increased the incorporation of this acid into the phospholipids of nuclear and microsomal fractions. The changes in the incorporation of saturated palmitic and unsaturated oleic acids suggest a possible influence on deacylation-reacylation mechanisms. These changes could alter the physical properties of membrane and affect certain membrane functions, including the activity of membrane bound enzymes and transport mechanisms.

Three different approaches were utilized for illustration of membranous effect of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) on liver cells. Toxicologic approach using a hepatoprotective effect against CCL4 as well as from previous results with other toxins. Histochemistry and microfluorometry after chemical injury. Biochemical as assessed by modulation of 14C palmitic acid incorporation under MDP effects in neutral lipids and phospholipids content of cell membranes. By this integrated study we may assume MDP played a role in one or more cell membrane(s). This assumption was supported by reduction of hepatocyte injury as assessed by enzyme analysis in serum or in the cells. Moreover, MDP pretreatment influenced the increase in the incorporation of labeled palmitic acid in neutral lipids and phospholipids. Microscopical image analysis and histochemical results supported the aforementioned findings.

Effects of synthetic muramyl dipeptide (MDP) on activity of liver microsomal mixed-function oxidase system and on the susceptibility of liver microsomes to lipid peroxidation, were tested in rats at intervals of 1 or 24 hours after single i.p. injection of MDP (1 mg per animal). No significant changes were found in levels of cytochrome P-450 and b5, microsomal heme, or in activities of aniline hydroxylase, ethylmorphine demethylase, glucuronide transferase or cytosol glutathione-S-transferase. However, significantly less (about 45%) TBA-reactive material accumulated in microsomal samples at the 1 h-interval after the MDP administration. The same inhibitory effect of MDP on lipid peroxidation was shown in vitro (in 1 mM concentration) after incubation of microsomes with the NADPH/ADP/Fe system.

Muramyl dipeptide (MDP) protection from acrolein, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride toxicity was tested using isolated rat hepatocytes prepared by collagenase perfusion method. Hepatotoxin lethal effects were assessed using trypan blue exclusion and ascertained by LD leakage test. Incubation of hepatocyte suspensions with acrolein (143 mumol/ml), CHCl3 (124 mumol/ml) and CCl4 (103.5 mumol/ml) for 15 min reduced viability to 62%, 13% and 27%, respectively. Pretreatment of hepatocytes in incubation media with MDP (20.6 nmol/ml) increased viability significantly to 83%, 27% and 46%, respectively (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05). MDP single treatment in vivo (8.26 mumol/kg) produced a three-fold decrease in the high serum aspartate and alanine transaminases induced by CCl4 (5.2 mmol/kg). MDP modulation of CCl4 hepatotoxicity was not accompanied by reduction of lipid peroxides either in liver homogenates, microsomes or hepatocytes in the present conditions. It is suggested that MDP in certain dosages may produce nonspecific stabilization of cytoplasmic membranes towards the studied cytotoxins.

In recent years the immunomodulatory activity of muramyl peptides has become of major interest because of their possible physiological and clinical importance. Many data suggest that this group of compounds has other pharmacological activities besides effects on the immune system. Some of these effects, such as pyrogenicity, sleep enhancement, and analgesic activity, are linked to the central nervous system (CNS). Other activities of muramyl peptides may involve CNS and peripheral mechanisms. These include antiinflammatory and hepatoprotective activities and the effect of muramyl peptides on blood pressure. The multiplicity of pharmacological actions of muramyl peptides suggests that these compounds might have a general modulatory role in physiological functions.

Serotoninergic contractions of the rat stomach strip were evoked and EC50 determined. In preparations from control animals MDP, 50 mumol/l, decreased EC50 or sensitized the preparation. In the strips from animals where adjuvant arthritis was induced, higher sensitivity to 5-HT was observed and the sensitizing effect of MDP was retained. In the strips from animals pretreated with cyclophosphamide or in the terminal stage of tumor growth lower sensitivity to 5-HT, which could be further decreased by MDP, were noticed. These opposite effects in serotoninergic reactions were tentatively linked with the modulation of the immune status in vivo.

With the aid of small electrolytic lesions we have studied the possible participation of brainstem structures in the adjuvant activity of muramyl dipeptide (MDP). The results suggest the involvement of the serotonergic groups B6.7.8 and serotonergic pathways in the upper region of the reticular formation. Since lesions in the caudal parts of reticular formation in the area of aminergic groups A1.3.5.7 with the participation of corresponding pathways also influenced the adjuvant effect of MDP the possible role of noradrenaline is also implicated.

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of single and multiple doses of N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity, and hence some of the mechanisms involved. MDP (8.26 mumol/kg i.v.) was administered to rats according to different protocols followed by a single dose of CCl4 (5.2 mmol/kg i.p.), and either the hepatocytes were subsequently isolated and tested for viability and lipid peroxides formation or the level of serum aminotransferases and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) was measured. The results clearly indicate that MDP pretreatment in a single dose reduced CCl4 hepatotoxicity as judged from viability tests as well as reduction of elevated lipid peroxides induced by CCl4 administration. The level of lactate dehydrogenase was also brought to normal value by single MDP administration. MDP also decreased significantly the CCl4-elevated Ca2+ content of isolated hepatocytes and postmicrosomal supernatant Ca2+. 14C-palmitic acid incorporation was increased significantly for neutral lipids and/or phospholipids in hepatocytes and certain subcellular fractions under MDP treatment in vivo. A different effect was seen after multiple MDP administration which further increased CCl4-induced elevation of aminotransferases. Even the repeated administration of MDP without CCl4 increased the level of the latter enzymes. It may be concluded that a single administration of MDP can protect liver cells from CCl4 injury by a mechanism affecting the plasma membrane.

The potency of two synthetic immunomodulators, muramyl dipeptide and adamantylamide dipeptide, which have the immunoadjuvant and immunomodulatory activity on pain threshold was studied. Two different analgesiometric procedures were employed: hot plate test and acetic acid writhing test in mice and rats. Both compounds were injected intravenously (1-4 mg/kg), intraperitoneally (5-50 mg/kg) and intracerebroventricularly (0.5-4 mg/kg) and were able to produce mild transient analgesia in both species. Writhing response was more influenced after systemic administration of drugs while hot plate latencies was not. On the contrary, latencies in hot plate test were more affected than the writhing response after intracerebroventricular administration. Dose response curve showed a bell shaped feature typical for peptides. Pretreatment with naltrexone, an opiate antagonist, did not prevent the analgesic action of tested compounds. The hyperalgesia induced by administration of parachlorophenylalanine, a serotonin depletor, could be prevented by administration of a nonanalgesic dose of MDP (0.025 mg/kg). At higher dosages (1 mg/kg) MDP was able to antagonize also general toxic effects of pCPA. These results support the possibility of participation of central serotonergic structures in MDP and AdDP induced analgesia. The peripheral mechanism of action, however, can not be completely ruled out.

Fever can be elicited in the rabbit by the intravenous administration of relatively large doses of a synthetic immunoadjuvant, N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, or muramyl dipeptide (MDP). This response could be mediated by endogenous pyrogen because MDP has been shown to induce their production both in vivo and in vitro. The results reported here show that intracisternal injection of minute amounts of MDP could elevate fever without activating the release of endogenous pyrogen in the plasma or in the cerebrospinal fluid. Moreover, indomethacin inhibited hyperthermia produced by intracerebroventricular administration of MDP. Therefore, our findings argue in favor of a direct effect of the glycopeptide on the thermoregulatory centers besides its indirect effect through the production of leukocytic pyrogen. This molecule apparently represents the minimal requirement for the pyrogenicity of bacterial peptidoglycan because administration, even by the intracerebral route, of a mixture of muramic acid and of its dipeptide moiety did not elicit fever.

Synthetic muramyl dipeptide, N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP), has been tested for activity against acute inflammation. In all models employed (Bayol + Arlacel paw oedema in rats, carrageenan pleurisy in rats, and carrageenan of dextran paw oedema in mice), MDP given in admixture with the phlogistic agents significantly lowered the resulting inflammatory reaction by about 30-40%. 0.1-0.2 mg of MDP per animal was applied. The mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity of this substance remains unknown.

Natural immunoadjuvant mixtures like BCG and FCA are known to produce gross alterations of drug-metabolizing systems in the rat. Since it has been shown that the smallest structure of various bacterial peptidoglycans, possessing adjuvant activity, is muramyl dipeptide, N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP), the possibility has been tested whether this substance is involved in production of the observed metabolic changes. Synthetic compound was applied subcutaneously for the period of 21 days, and the in vitro activity of 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-de-ethylase, aminopyrine-N-demethylase, together with the microsomal content of cytochrome P-450 and b5, and the in vivo acetylation of sulphadimidine, were investigated. No effect of MDP on any of these tests was noted in both the Lewis arthritic strain and the AVN disease-free strain. It is suggested that MDP is metabolically inactive and that the defects in metabolism of drugs, following bacterial-adjuvant treatment, are likely to be due to some additional cell-wall components, other than peptidoglycans. Furthermore, our data support the view of no relationship between the development of metabolic changes and the established arthritic lesions in rats.

The influence of muramyl dipeptide (N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine) on the rejection of mouse skin allografts was investigated. While the 0.1-mg dose administered on days 7, 6, 5 prior to transplantation caused significant prolongation of the graft survival, the 0.5-mg dose administered on days 3, 2, 1 prior to transplantation resulted in remarkable augmentation of the graft rejection. The present results support the view that muramyl dipeptide can induce both stimulatory and suppressive immune mechanisms, depending on the treatment regimen.

Repeated systemic administration of MDP in saline has been found to produce dose-dependent edema of paws in rats. Two to three daily doses are sufficient to induce significant increase of the paw volume. The edema is spontaneously well reversible. Its formation may substantially be reduced by indomethacin or prednisone, suggesting thus an involvement of prostaglandins. Body-weight loss and impaired walking of animals were also observed. Severity of all the effects was found to be markedly dependent on the strain of rats used.

The effect of intravenous administration of a nonpyrogenic (25 micrograms/kg) and pyrogenic (2000 micrograms/kg) dose of N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) on sleep stages was tested. During the daytime study neither dose changed slow wave sleep. Rapid eye movement sleep was influenced, however, depending on the dose used. Small doses of MDP significantly increased and high doses decreased REM sleep. During the dark phase of the day (evening study) administration of 25 micrograms/kg of MDP caused enhancement of both slow wave sleep and REM sleep.

Muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and a number of synthetic analogs, until very recently considered to be important mainly for their immunomodulatory activity, have been investigated. Papers dealing with these properties of MDP have been reviewed (1,2).

Contractions evoked by muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a synthetic compound possessing immunostimulatory properties, were studied in several isolated nerve-smooth muscle preparations. The contractions by micromolar concentrations of MDP were evoked either by direct interaction with smooth muscle (rat stomach strip) or at least partly indirectly via neurogenic stimulation (guinea pig ileum); the effect was stereospecific since the MDP-D was not active. The insensitivity of the preparations to serotonin (5-HT), either inherent (vas deferens) or after 5-HT antagonists or after desensitization to 5-HT, prevented or markedly reduced the contractile activity by MDP. On the other hand, a nanomolar concentration of MDP enhanced the sensitivity of the rat stomach strip to 5-HT.

The administration of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) in a single dose of 2 mg/kg increased markedly the utilization of 3H-thymidine for the synthesis of DNA thymine in liver, kidney and thymus, while no effect has been observed in spleen. Higher doses of MDP (5 mg and 10 mg) did not further increase the effect, but, on the contrary, in some tissues such as thymus, the effect was abolished. The repeated administration of 1 mg/kg of MDP for 7 days, contrary to single administration, had no effects. The measurement of proliferation activity in the experiment where DNA in the organs has been previously labeled with 3H-thymidine, has shown that the repeated administration of MDP (1 mg/kg) led to a more rapid decay in specific activity of DNA thymine in liver, kidney and thymus, but no effect was seen in spleen. The activities of thymidine kinase in the cytosole fraction of thymus and spleen after a single administration of MDP (1 mg/kg), are influenced in different ways. While in thymus the enzyme activity increased between 16 and 24 h, not being markedly changed in the early intervals, in spleen a significant decrease in phosphorylation of 14C-thymidine can be observed as early as 2 h after administration, and the decrease persists up to 48 h.