Influence of desmuramylpeptides from LK-409 series on the cytokine production in the mouse spleen cells.

LK-409 (7-oxooctanoyl-L-Ala-D-iGln) was found to modulate immune response. To study the impact of minimal structural changes in the LK-409 molecule on the immunomodulatory activity a series of LK-409 analogues was prepared and their activities were evaluated. After the treatment of NmRI mice at a dose of 25 microg daily for three consecutive days the isolated spleen cells were stimulated with concanavaline A and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or ionomycin and PMA, and the production of IL-2, IL-4,-IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-gamma studied as a function of the different LK-409 analogues. All the compounds modulate the Th1/Th2 cytokine response, especially in the presence of ConA&PMA activation. The minimal structure modification of LK-409 strongly influences the regulation of the cytokine production.