A. Val'dman, V. Ratnikov, N. Makarova
Dec 1, 1982
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Journal
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine
Abstract
Tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg), a biologically active peptide [9], has attracted the attention of research workers because of its marked stimulating action on macrophages and on polymorphonuclear granulocytes [3, 4]. The ability of this tetrapeptide to stimulate certain functions of cells of the monocytic macrophagal systems -mobility [7], phagocytosis [9], bactericidal [i0] and antitumor [8] activity -has been demonstrated. The effect of tuftsin on parameters of the immune response has received less study. There have been only isolated investigations in which its stimulating effect on antibody production has been established in response to injection of various thymus-dependent and thymus-independent antigens [6, 12]. The results of these investigations have necessitated further research in the same direction. In particular, more precise clarification of schemes of administration of the peptide in order to obtain the maximal immunotrophic effect is required. In addition, there is good reason to study the character of the effect of a number of tuftisin analogs, whose action on specific antibody formation has not yet been investigated.