Lipophilic muramyl dipeptide-induced changes in electron microscopic morphology and phagocytic function of murine macrophages.

The capacity of a lipophilic derivative of synthetic muramyl dipeptide (MDP), B30-MDP, to induce morphological changes and functional alterations in the activity of resident peritoneal macrophages was studied. Macrophages incubated in vitro for 24 h with B30-MDP, but not with MDP or medium, showed rounding and extensive ruffling of the cell surface when examined by scanning electron microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy of B30-MDP-treated macrophages revealed the development of large cytoplasmic vacuoles. These structural changes did not affect the viability of macrophages. The Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis of 51Cr-labeled sheep red blood cells by adherent macrophages incubated with a high dose of MDP showed a modest response whereas even low doses of B30-MDP greatly enhanced the phagocytic activity. Adherent macrophages incubated with B30-MDP generated elevated levels of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence in response to stimulation by zymosan.