Biomaterial Database

beta-Endorphin augments the cytolytic activity and interferon production of natural killer cells. 1986

R N Mandler, and W E Biddison, and R Mandler, and S A Serrate

We have investigated the in vitro effects of the neurohormone beta-endorphin (b-end) on natural killer (NK) activity and interferon (IFN) production mediated by large granular lymphocytes (LGL). LGL-enriched fractions from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal human volunteers were obtained by fractionation over discontinuous Percoll gradients. LGL were preincubated with or without various concentrations of b-end or the closely related peptides alpha-endorphin (a-end), gamma-endorphin (g-end), or D-ALA2-beta-endorphin (D-ALA2-b-end), a synthetic b-end analogue. NK activity was assayed on 51Cr-labeled K562 target cells. Preincubation of LGL effectors (but not K562 targets) for 2 to 18 hr with concentrations of b-end between 10(-7) M and 10(-10) M produced significant augmentation of NK cytolytic activity (mean percentage increase: 63%). The classic opiate antagonist naloxone blocked the enhancing effect when used at a 100-fold molar excess relative to b-end. Neither a-end nor g-end could augment NK activity, whereas D-ALA2-b-end produced an enhancement comparable with that produced by b-end. In addition, incubation of LGL with b-end in the presence of phytohemagglutinin or poly I:C significantly augmented IFN production. These findings demonstrate that b-end enhances NK activity and IFN production of purified LGL, and suggests that b-end might bind to an opioid receptor on LGL that can be blocked by naloxone. These results lend support to the concepts of regulation of the immune response by neurohormones and the functional relationship between the nervous and immune systems.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007369	Interferon Inducers	Agents that promote the production and release of interferons. They include mitogens, lipopolysaccharides, and the synthetic polymers Poly A-U and Poly I-C. Viruses, bacteria, and protozoa have been also known to induce interferons.	Inducers, Interferon
D007370	Interferon Type I	Interferon secreted by leukocytes, fibroblasts, or lymphoblasts in response to viruses or interferon inducers other than mitogens, antigens, or allo-antigens. They include alpha- and beta-interferons (INTERFERON-ALPHA and INTERFERON-BETA).	Interferons Type I,Type I Interferon,Type I Interferons,Interferon, Type I,Interferons, Type I
D007371	Interferon-gamma	The major interferon produced by mitogenically or antigenically stimulated LYMPHOCYTES. It is structurally different from TYPE I INTERFERON and its major activity is immunoregulation. It has been implicated in the expression of CLASS II HISTOCOMPATIBILITY ANTIGENS in cells that do not normally produce them, leading to AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES.	Interferon Type II,Interferon, Immune,gamma-Interferon,Interferon, gamma,Type II Interferon,Immune Interferon,Interferon, Type II
D007694	Killer Cells, Natural	Bone marrow-derived lymphocytes that possess cytotoxic properties, classically directed against transformed and virus-infected cells. Unlike T CELLS; and B CELLS; NK CELLS are not antigen specific. The cytotoxicity of natural killer cells is determined by the collective signaling of an array of inhibitory and stimulatory CELL SURFACE RECEPTORS. A subset of T-LYMPHOCYTES referred to as NATURAL KILLER T CELLS shares some of the properties of this cell type.	NK Cells,Natural Killer Cells,Cell, NK,Cell, Natural Killer,Cells, NK,Cells, Natural Killer,Killer Cell, Natural,NK Cell,Natural Killer Cell
D002469	Cell Separation	Techniques for separating distinct populations of cells.	Cell Isolation,Cell Segregation,Isolation, Cell,Cell Isolations,Cell Segregations,Cell Separations,Isolations, Cell,Segregation, Cell,Segregations, Cell,Separation, Cell,Separations, Cell
D003601	Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic	The demonstration of the cytotoxic effect on a target cell of a lymphocyte, a mediator released by a sensitized lymphocyte, an antibody, or complement.	AHG-CDC Tests,Anti-Human Globulin Complement-Dependent Cytotoxicity Tests,Microcytotoxicity Tests,Anti Human Globulin Complement Dependent Cytotoxicity Tests,Anti-Human Globulin Complement-Dependent Cytotoxicity Test,Antiglobulin-Augmented Lymphocytotoxicity Test,Antiglobulin-Augmented Lymphocytotoxicity Tests,Cytotoxicity Test, Immunologic,Cytotoxicity Tests, Anti-Human Globulin Complement-Dependent,Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunological,Immunologic Cytotoxicity Test,Immunologic Cytotoxicity Tests,Lymphocytotoxicity Test, Antiglobulin-Augmented,Lymphocytotoxicity Tests, Antiglobulin-Augmented,Microcytotoxicity Test,AHG CDC Tests,AHG-CDC Test,Anti Human Globulin Complement Dependent Cytotoxicity Test,Antiglobulin Augmented Lymphocytotoxicity Test,Antiglobulin Augmented Lymphocytotoxicity Tests,Cytotoxicity Test, Immunological,Cytotoxicity Tests, Anti Human Globulin Complement Dependent,Immunological Cytotoxicity Test,Immunological Cytotoxicity Tests,Lymphocytotoxicity Test, Antiglobulin Augmented,Lymphocytotoxicity Tests, Antiglobulin Augmented
D003602	Cytotoxicity, Immunologic	The phenomenon of target cell destruction by immunologically active effector cells. It may be brought about directly by sensitized T-lymphocytes or by lymphoid or myeloid "killer" cells, or it may be mediated by cytotoxic antibody, cytotoxic factor released by lymphoid cells, or complement.	Tumoricidal Activity, Immunologic,Immunologic Cytotoxicity,Immunologic Tumoricidal Activities,Immunologic Tumoricidal Activity,Tumoricidal Activities, Immunologic
D004306	Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic	A specific immune response elicited by a specific dose of an immunologically active substance or cell in an organism, tissue, or cell.	Immunologic Dose-Response Relationship,Relationship, Immunologic Dose-Response,Dose Response Relationship, Immunologic,Dose-Response Relationships, Immunologic,Immunologic Dose Response Relationship,Immunologic Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Immunologic Dose Response,Relationships, Immunologic Dose-Response
D004723	Endorphins	One of the three major groups of endogenous opioid peptides. They are large peptides derived from the PRO-OPIOMELANOCORTIN precursor. The known members of this group are alpha-, beta-, and gamma-endorphin. The term endorphin is also sometimes used to refer to all opioid peptides, but the narrower sense is used here; OPIOID PEPTIDES is used for the broader group.	Endorphin
D004915	Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute	A myeloproliferative disorder characterized by neoplastic proliferation of erythroblastic and myeloblastic elements with atypical erythroblasts and myeloblasts in the peripheral blood.	Di Guglielmo's Disease,Erythremic Myelosis,Erythroblastic Leukemia, Acute,Erythroleukemia,Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute, M6,Myeloid Leukemia, Acute, M6,Di Guglielmo Disease,Acute Erythroblastic Leukemia,Acute Erythroblastic Leukemias,Di Guglielmos Disease,Disease, Di Guglielmo,Disease, Di Guglielmo's,Erythremic Myeloses,Erythroblastic Leukemias, Acute,Erythroleukemias,Leukemia, Acute Erythroblastic,Leukemias, Acute Erythroblastic,Myeloses, Erythremic,Myelosis, Erythremic