Macrophage stimulating protein mechanism

The adjuvanticity of liposomes depends upon their composition, number of layers and charge characteristics. They act as effective adjuvants for both protein- and carbohydrate-based antigens and help stimulate both B- and T-cell responses. Their likely mode of action includes depot formation, but they also possibly increase/enhance antigen presentation to macrophages. The exact molecular mechanism(s) by which they stimulate a T-cell response remains to be elucidated,... 

Many studies showed that peptidoglycan in the cell wall stimulates macrophages, antibody formation, and T lymphocyte activity entering the intestine (Dziarski 1991). Certain strains of LAB induce pro-Thl responses, promoted through the receptor-mediated cytokine pathway, and the ability of individual cell wall compounds to induce pro-IFN cytokines (especially IL-12) at a sub-inflammatory level. However, it should be realized that other indirect LAB-induced modulatory mechanisms may also be operative in combating atopy, such as their ability to liberate de novo immunoregulatory peptides from major food proteins via enzymatic hydrolysis. This mechanism has been demonstrated experimentally for some LAB (Matar et al. 1996, Rokka et al. 1997). 

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