title: Norepinephrine inhibits human natural killer cell activity in vitro.
abstract: The effect of norepinephrine on human NK cell activity was investigated using a flow cytometry assay. NK cell activity was found to be inhibited by direct addition of norepinephrine to lymphocyte/target cell mixtures in a dose-dependent fashion. This inhibitory effect of norepinephrine was blocked by propranolol but not by atenolol. The results suggest that norepinephrine has a negative influence on NK cell activity and that the effect of norepinephrine is mediated via beta 2-adrenoceptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takamoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toshima
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
mesh_terms: D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D001262:Atenolol; D011433:Propranolol; D009638:Norepinephrine