title: Augmentation of natural cytotoxicity by leucine enkephalin in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: Natural Killer (NK) activity of lymphocytes from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients is frequently below normal and declines as disease progresses. We studied the potential of leucine enkephalin (leu-enkephalin) to restore this immune parameter by incubating nylon wool nonadherent mononuclear cells from 14 patients in the presence or absence of leu-enkephalin, and measuring NK cytolysis in a standard 51Cr release assay. The NK activity of human immunodeficiency virus antibody positive (HIV+) individuals with some remaining NK lytic ability was significantly augmented by leu-enkephalin concentrations of 10(-10) and 10(-8) M (n = 7). HIV+ patients with no measurable basal level of NK activity (n = 3) were not responsive to stimulation with leu-enkephalin. Human immunodeficiency virus antibody negative (HIV-) individuals (n = 4) responded in a pattern similar to normals. In addition, naloxone, an antagonist of alkaloid and peptide opiates including leu-enkephalin, displayed the properties of an antagonist/agonist, reflecting the immunoregulatory capacities of the endogenous opiate system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68105.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oleson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grierson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Purtilo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000145:classification; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine