Beta-endorphin content in HIV-infected HuT78 cell line and in peripheral lymphocytes from HIV-positive subjects.
We investigated beta-endorphin (BE) content in an HIV-infected cell line and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) from HIV-positive subjects. HIV infection increased BE content in HuT78 cell line compared to uninfected cells. Accordingly, BE content was greater in HIV-positive subjects than in healthy controls, both in fresh PBM and in mitogen-stimulated or unstimulated cultured cells. Further, in PHA-stimulated cultures, BE increase was correlated with disease progression. Opioids are known to decrease immune responsiveness in vivo, and it may be that the increased BE concentrations contribute to HIV-associated immune deficiency. In HIV-positive subjects, but not in healthy controls, intracellular BE concentration was positively correlated with PHA-induced PBM proliferation. The latter data suggest an alternative explanation: that the increased BE content represents a paradoxical response of the host in an attempt to balance virus-induced immunodepression. Thus, BE may be important in fine-tuning of the immune response with its up- and downregulation dependent upon differences in immune status.
Barcellini
W
W
Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
Sacerdote
P
P
Borghi
M O
MO
Rizzardi
G P
GP
Fain
C
C
De Giuli Morghen
C
C
Manfredi
B
B
Lazzarin
A
A
Meroni
P L
PL
Panerai
A E
AE
D000328:Adult; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000502:physiology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000097:blood; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
D001615:beta-Endorphin