title: Suppression of human B lymphocyte activation by beta-endorphin.
abstract: The effects of beta-endorphin (beta-E) and contained peptides were investigated for their ability to regulate Staphylococcus aureus (SAC)-induced immunoglobulin secretion by human B lymphocytes. Co-culture of beta-E with SAC-stimulated peripheral blood-derived mononuclear cells, under serum-containing or serum-free conditions, resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of immunoglobulin-secreting cell (ISC) formation. When the same cultures were assessed for class-specific Ig formation it was found that IgG-ISC were suppressed to a greater extent that IgA-ISC or IgM-ISC. In contrast to these results, beta-E was found to be unable to suppress SAC-induced lymphocyte proliferation. To map the suppressive activity associated with beta-E, truncated peptides based on the beta-E sequence were assessed for biological activity. The results indicated that peptides containing the N-terminal region of beta-E suppressed ISC formation. Moreover, methionine-enkephalin (beta-E 61-65) was found to be effective in suppressing ISC formation. beta-E-mediated suppression of IgG-specific ISC formation appears to involve classical receptor-ligand interaction as evidenced by the ability of naloxone to block suppression of ISC formation.
authors: Division of Cellular Immunology, Immunetech Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA 92121.
authors: E L
authors: EL
authors: Morgan
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: McClurg
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Janda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D001665:Binding Sites; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009270:Naloxone; D001615:beta-Endorphin