Induction of tumouricidal leucocytes by the intranasal application of MTP-PE, a lipophilic muramyl peptide.

Single intranasal applications of MTP-PE, a lipophilic muramyl peptide, induce tumouricidal and tumouristatic leucocytes in the lungs of rats. In ex vivo assays the tumouristatic activity was detectable for 8 days after drug administration. By separation of the effector cells on Ficoll-Hypaque gradients, it was shown that both neutrophils and macrophages are responsible for this activity. Using the B16/BL6 melanoma system in mice, there was a high survival rate after repeated intranasal applications of MTP-PE.