Percentage of NK-cells in peripheral blood in resting normal subjects is negatively correlated to plasma adrenaline.
The purpose of the present study was to examine, if there was a correlation between natural killer cells in blood and plasma catecholamines in a resting situation. Lymphocyte subsets, especially, the NK-cells (CD3-CD56+), plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline were determined in peripheral blood from healthy male subjects resting in the supine position. Median age was 32 years. A negative correlation was observed between resting plasma adrenaline and the percentage of (CD3-CD56+) mononuclear cells (p = 0.048, r = -0.61). Previous studies have shown however, that adrenaline may increase the number of natural killer cells in blood within minutes. We suggest that adrenaline may have a dual effect on NK-cells: an acute effect by which NK-cells are mobilized from depots and a chronic effect, which decreases the number of lymphocytes and especially NK-cells in peripheral blood.
Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
J H
JH
Knudsen
E
E
Kjaersgaard
E W
EW
Jensen
N J
NJ
Christensen
D000328:Adult; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male
D004837:Epinephrine