Induction of antibodies directed against self and altered-self determinants by a synthetic adjuvant, muramyl dipeptide and some of its derivatives.

In a serum free, 2-mercaptoethanol supplemented culture medium muramyl dipeptide (MDP) is able to increase the number of plaque-forming cells (PFC) directed against syngeneic, bromelain-treated red blood cells (br-MRBC) and against an autoantigen, mouse albumin. The non-specific stimulation of anti-br-MRBC PFC by MDP, as by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), can be observed in spleen cell populations depleted of adherent and phagocytic cells, and in nu/nu spleen cell cultures. However, the kinetics of the induction of anti-br-MRBC PFC in murine spleen cell cultures in presence of LPS or of MDP are not identical. Moreover, MDP is able to stimulate C3H/He Orl (LPS low-responder strain) cells. Thus, the mechanisms of non-specific stimulation by MDP or by LPS could be different. Experiments done with thirteen structural analogues of MDP showed that there exists a good correlation between the adjuvant activity and the ability to induce anti-br-MRBC PFC.