IN-VIVO IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF TUFTSIN AND 4 ANALOGS

Four analogs of the natural macrophage-activator peptide tuftsin (T-K- P-R) were synthesized with the aim of obtaining compounds more effecti ve in the stimulation of the immune system than tuftsin. Modifications to the parent tuftsin molecule were (i) substitution of the proline ( P) residue, and/or (ii) replacement of the N-terminal residue threonin e (T). The study presented here shows that the integrity of the NH2 te rminus is not mandatory for a full biological tuftsin-like activity. O ur data also suggest that the analogue F-(psi)-K-ABO-R, where ABO is a non-natural amino acid, is a promising agent for immunotherapy of inf ectious and neoplasic diseases for which tuftsin has already demonstra ted some efficacy.