ABSTRACT
Our objective was to determine the immune-modulating effects of the neurotrophic factor N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) on median nerve regeneration in rats. We used male Wistar rats (120-140 days of age, weighing 250-332 g) and compared the results of three different techniques of nerve repair: 1) epineural neurorrhaphy using sutures alone (group S - 10 rats), 2) epineural neurorrhaphy using sutures plus fibrin tissue adhesive (FTA; group SF - 20 rats), and 3) sutures plus FTA, with MDP added to the FTA (group SFM - 20 rats). Functional assessments using the grasp test were performed weekly for 12 weeks to identify recovery of flexor muscle function in the fingers secondary to median nerve regeneration. Histological analysis was also utilized. The total number and diameter of myelinated fibers were determined in each proximal and distal nerve segment. Two indices, reported as percentage, were calculated from these parameters, namely, the regeneration index and the diameter change index. By the 8th week, superiority of group SFM over group S became apparent in the grasping test (P = 0.005). By the 12th week, rats that had received MDP were superior in the grasping test compared to both group S (P < 0.001) and group SF (P = 0.001). Moreover, group SF was better in the grasping test than group S (P = 0.014). However, no significant differences between groups were identified by histological analysis. In the present study, rats that had received MDP obtained better function, in the absence of any significant histological differences.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine/pharmacology , Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology , Fibrin Tissue Adhesive/pharmacology , Nerve Regeneration/drug effects , Median Nerve/drug effects , Median Nerve/physiology , Nerve Regeneration/physiology , Rats, Wistar , Sutures , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Increased secretion of H2O2, O2- and lysozyme by human monocytes in vitro on treatment with cisplatin, rIFN-Y (interferon-Y), LPS (lipopolysaccharide) and MDP (muramyl dipeptide) is reported. It is suggested that increased production of these secretory products represent the activated state of monocytes. These in vitro activated monocytes could either kill the tumor cells via increased contact mediated cytolysis or cytolysis mediated via the release of the secretory products like H2O2, O2- and lysozyme.
Subject(s)
Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine/pharmacology , Cisplatin/pharmacology , Cytochrome c Group/metabolism , Humans , Hydrogen Peroxide , Interferon-gamma/pharmacology , Lipopolysaccharides , Lysosomes/metabolism , Monocytes/drug effects , Muramidase/metabolism , Peroxides , Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology , Time FactorsSubject(s)
Humans , Adjuvants, Immunologic , Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine/pharmacology , Adjuvants, Immunologic/classification , Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology , Aluminum/pharmacology , Antigens/immunology , Antigens/metabolism , Diamines/pharmacology , Emulsions/pharmacology , Freund's Adjuvant/pharmacology , Immunization , Levamisole/pharmacology , Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology , Liposomes , Oils/pharmacology , Saponins/pharmacologyABSTRACT
En el presente trabajo se hace una revisión de los aspectos teóricos y experimentales del componente mínimo que reproduce el efecto inmunorregulador del adyuvante completo de Freund: el muramil dipéptido (MDP). Se hace un breve análisis de su historia y de las principales evidencias experimentales que permiten proponer el mecanismo de acción del MDP sobre células inmunocompetentes, además de la importancia que esta molécula tiene como inmunorregulador y las perspectivas de su uso