Immunopharmacological Activities of Bacterial Cell Walls and Related Synthetic Compounds (Muramyl Peptides)

Abstract

1. An outline of the chemical structure of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycans was described to make it easy to understand the chemical basis of immunopharmacological activities of cell walls and related synthetic compounds (muramyl peptides). 2. Immunopharmacological activities of cell walls and muramyl peptides which have been detected by in vivo and in vitro assays were tabulated with comprehensive literatures. 3. Recent data obtained in our and cooperative laboratories on the immunopharmacological activities of cell walls and related compounds were presented in some detail. 4. A new aspect in which cell wall peptidoglycans and muramyl peptides are regarded as an endogenous immunomodulator or a vitamin was discussed.