title: Influence of terbutaline on natural killer cell activity.
abstract: Studies on the effect of cAMP-inducing agents on NK activity have been contradictory. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of beta-agonists on NK activity in vivo in 15 asthmatics and 3 healthy volunteers. Blood samples of NK activity were taken at regular intervals after placebo and after subcutaneous injection of 7 micrograms/kg of terbutaline. NK activity was measured by the standard 4-h Chromium51 release assay against the leukemic line K 562 at a 50:1 effector/target cell ratio. Compared with placebo, terbutaline induced within 30-60 min a significant increase in NK activity which lasted less than 2 h. Further studies are necessary to investigate the effect of long-term beta-agonist treatment on NK activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stenius-Aarniala
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vesterinen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiviranta
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Timonen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000242:Cyclic AMP; D013726:Terbutaline