MYELOPEPTIDES - NEW IMMUNOREGULATORY PEPTIDES

Bone marrow cells of various animal species and humans produce a group of bioregulatory peptides called myelopeptides (MPs). MPs have been i solated and purified, and their physico-chemical properties have been investigated. MPs have a wide spectrum of functional activities: immun oregulatory, differentiating, and opiate-like A new immunocorrective d rug, Myelopidum, which is used effectively in clinical practice for tr eating diseases accompanied by immunodeficiency, has been created on t he basis of MPs. Administration of Myelopidum after surgery prevents 5 0% to 70% of postsurgical complications, particularly postsurgery pneu monia, and also normalizes the number and balance of T-helper cells, T -suppressor cells, and B-lymphocytes in patients with chronic pulmonar y diseases, resulting in a beneficial clinical effect, including a sig nificant prolongation of remission periods. Myelopidum is also used in veterinary medicine for prophylaxis and treatment of pneumonia and en teritis in newborn and young animals. The primary structure of several myelopeptides is established. The functional activities of two, MP-I (Phe-Leu-Gly-Phe-Pro-Thr) and MP-2 (Leu-Val-Val-Tyr-Pro-Trp), are bein g investigated.