title: A characterization of the in vivo immunomodulation by Met-enkephalin in mice.
abstract: Single intraperitoneal injections of Met-enkephalin (MENK) into CBA mice decreased the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages, Con-A-induced proliferation and NK-activity of spleen cells. Conversely, in mice which had been immunized with sheep erythrocytes, treatment with MENK was associated with enhancement of phagocytosis, and no effect on lymphoid proliferation and NK-cytotoxicity of spleen cells. MENK-induced inhibition of cellular functions in nonimmunized mice was associated with a decrease of plasma ACTH level, whereas MENK-induced stimulation of phagocytosis in immunized mice was paralleled with an elevation of ACTH, suggesting a role of corticoids in immunomodulation by MENK. MENK-induced modulation (suppression and stimulation) of phagocytosis, as well as inhibition of spleen cell proliferation, was not observable in adrenalectomized mice, although a reduced NK-cytotoxicity was still present.
authors.affiliation: Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Department of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marotti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rabatic
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gabrilovac
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003208:Concanavalin A; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone