Immuno-, Phagocytosis-Modulating, and Antitoxic Properties of Amino Acids and Peptide Preparations

Abstract

The influence of amino acids, their mixtures, and peptides on the immune response, phagocytosis in vitro, and in CBA mice, and broiler chickens, as well as on in vitro ability of listed preparations to protect animals' splenocytes from toxic action of benzene and aflatoxin B1 were studied. It was shown that amino acids (Asp, Glu, Val, Trp), amino acid mixtures (cerebrolysine, levamine, aviamine), and the dipeptides GluTrp and LysAsp stimulate the immune response to SRBC at subcutaneous and peroral application. The peptides thymopentin, thymosin alpha-1, and peptide mixtures (thymosin fraction 5, thymalin) stimulate the immune response only at the site of subcutaneous injections. Lys, Tyr, and bursin (LysHisGly-amide), regardless of the mode of application, do not change, but Arg inhibits the immune response. None of the preparations studied change the immune response to Viantigen. Levamine, cerebrolysine, and aviamine are immunoreactive only at low doses (6.5 x 10(2)-6.5 x 10(-8) mg/kg). At a dose of 65 mg/kg these preparations lose immunostimulating properties. Amino acids (6.5 x 10(-2) mg/kg), which stimulate, rather than influence or inhibit the immune response, enhance phagocytosis of S. aureus by granulocytes, regardless of mode of application. Levamine and cerebrolysine in the range of doses of 6.5 x 10(-2)-6.5 x 10(-6) mg/kg do not influence phagocytosis; at a dose of 65 mg/kg, phagocytosis is enhanced. Aviamine stimulates phagocytosis as well at low and at high doses. The ability of preparations to protect in vitro at a low concentration (1.3 x 10(-3) mg/ml) murine or chickens' splenocytes from toxic action of benzene and aflatoxin B1 (at 1:1000 dilution) does not correlate with their action on the immune response and phagocytosis. The protective actions revealed by the following preparations include: (a) stimulating the immune response and phagocytosis (Glu, Asp, Trp, amino acid mixture aviamine, the dipeptides LysAsp, GluTrp, the peptide mixtures thymalin, thymosin fraction 5); (b) enhancing the immune response but not influencing phagocytosis (Met, levamine, cerebrolysine); (c) influencing neither the immune response nor phagocytosis (Gly, Ile). At the same time those preparations (Lys, Arg) that stimulate phagocytosis but influence the immune response in a different way (Lys does not influence; Arg suppresses the response) are inert as antitoxic agents. Antitoxic properties of amino acid preparations levamine, cerebrolysine, and aviamine retain as well in the assays at a rather large (1.3 mg/ml) concentration like their phagocytosis-stimulating properties.

Detoxication of benzene and aflatoxin B1 with amino acid and peptide preparations in mice and chicken

“…The data on antitoxic activity of natural immunomodulators, in particular amino acids and peptides. against benzene or AFB1 are scanty and obtained primarily in in vitro experiment [1,2,5].…”

Similarity of immunomodulating, phagocytosis-modulating, and antitoxic properties of dipeptides and their constituent amino acids

“…In nonimmunized mice receiving test preparations, phagocytosis-modulating activity of peritoneal granulocytes was determined in vitro [1, 3,4]. Granulocytes were obtained by washing the abdominal cavity with sterile Hanks' solution 2.5 h after the intraperitoneal injection of 10% sterile peptone (Nutritional Biochemical Corporation).…”

“…Splenocytes in Hanks' solution and benzenetreated splenocytes served as the controls. The results were expressed as the index of cytotoxicity (in %) [1,3].…”

“…A oneday culture of St. aureus served as the test microbe. The phagocytic index (percent ofphagocytizing neutrophils) and phagocytic number (the mean number of microbial cells in one phagocyte) were estimated [1,3].…”

“…Our previous experiments showed that immunomodulating activities of low doses of dipeptides Glu-Trp (thymogen) and Lys-Asp are determined by immune activities of their constituent amino acids [1,3]. The use of immunomodulators affecting specific and nonspecific resistances is of particular importance under conditions of ecological instability often accompanied by immunodeficiency in humans.…”