title: Beta-endorphin suppresses rat plaque-forming cell response by a non-opioid mechanism.
abstract: The opioid peptide beta h-endorphin 1-31 inhibited the plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to sheep red blood cells when rat splenocytes, immunized in vivo, were cultured in vitro with the peptide. The opioid antagonist naloxone failed to reverse the beta h-endorphin 1-31 suppression of the PFC response. Peptide fragments of beta h-endorphin 1-31, other opioid peptides, and alkaloids had no effect on the response. These data indicate that beta h-endorphin 1-31 suppresses antibody production or secretion by a specific, non-opioid receptor on the rat splenocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY 14642.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hemmick
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bidlack
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015478:Antigens, Heterophile / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012756:Sheep; D013154:Spleen; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015478:Antigens, Heterophile; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009270:Naloxone; D001615:beta-Endorphin