Activation of immune responses by muroctasin.

N2-[(N-Acetylmuramoyl)-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl]-N6-stearoyl-L-lysine (MDP-Lys(L18), muroctasin), a muramyl dipeptide derivative, has been reported to enhance host resistance to infections, as well as displaying adjuvant activities on the humoral and cellular immune responses. This paper reviews briefly its immunopotentiating activities, which were found to be attributed to its augmenting effect on interleukin 1 production.