Inhibitory and stimulatory effects of a synthetic glycopeptide (MDP) on the in vitro PFC response: factors affecting the response.

A synthetic adjuvant active glycopeptide, N-acetyl-muramyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine (MDP), has been previously shown to enhance the in vitro immune response of mouse spleen cells to T-dependent or independent antigens. Data presented here show that the net activity of MDP on the in vitro immune response is closely related to the cell culture conditions: Two distinct patterns of MDP activities could actually be detected. Marked stimulation of the PFC response was observed at “low density” cell cultures. In contrast, suppression could be seen at “high density” cell cultures. Moreover, the culture conditions which permitted characterization of either the enhancement or suppression of the immune response by MDP were strongly dependent on the strain of mouse used. However, these activities were not dependent on antigen concentration, on kinetics of responses, or on cytotoxic effects.