Regional muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine administration enhances hepatic immune function and tumor surveillance. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Immune status of the liver may affect growth of liver metastases. We analyzed the ability of muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine (MTP-PE), an immunomodulatory bacterial cell wall analog, to stimulate Kupffer cells (KCs) and protect against tumor growth, with or without an immunosuppressive partial hepatectomy (PH). Impact of MTP-PE's route of administration on KC function was assessed. METHODS: Buffalo rats (n = 7 to 12/group) were treated with saline, 40 microg MTP-PE intraportally (portal) or intravenously (IV) and challenged with 5 x 10(5) hepatoma cells, and tumors counted on day 21. To assess MTP-PE's impact on KC stimulation in animals undergoing PH, a known stimulant of tumor cell growth, groups were treated with saline or MTP-PE and challenged with tumor and underwent 30% PH. KCs were harvested and analyzed for superoxide production. Statistical analysis was performed with Mann-Whitney U test or chi-square test. RESULTS: MTP-PE-treated animals had fewer tumor nodules than control animals (19 vs 184, P <.005). MTP-PE-portal animals had fewer nodules than MTP-PE-IV (2 vs 36, P <.05). MTP-PE treatment before PH resulted in fewer tumor nodules compared with control animals (192 vs 276, P <. 05). MTP-PE administration increased macrophage superoxide production (20.6 +/- 2 vs 11.9 +/- 1.1 nmol/10(6) cells, P <.005). CONCLUSIONS: MTP-PE improved KC function and decreased growth of microscopic tumor cells. MTP-PE's effects persist after an immunosuppressive hepatectomy. Portal administration was the most effective. MTP-PE administration may be useful as a neoadjuvant therapy for patients undergoing resection of liver malignancies.

publication date

  • August 1, 2000

Research

keywords

  • Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Kupffer Cells
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0033869511

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1067/msy.2000.107420

PubMed ID

  • 10922994

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 128

issue

  • 2