Tuftsin

Tuftsin is an endogenous peptide generated by proteolysis of leukokinin that stimulates phagocytosis. It binds human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), human monocytes, and mouse macrophages with Kd values of 130, 125, and 53 nM, respectively. Tuftsin (200 nM) increases phagocytosis of IgG-coated ovine red blood cells by 61% in isolated mouse peritoneal macrophages. It increases phagocytosis of the bacteria S. aureus and L. monocytogenes, as well as the fungus S. oviformis, by isolated human, mouse, rabbit, dog, or guinea pig phagocytes when used at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 0.15 ?g/ml. Tuftsin (0.1, 0.5, and 25 mg/kg) increases survival in a syngeneic mouse model of 2-methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma.