title: Neuropeptides accentuate interleukin-4 induced human immunoglobuline E synthesis in vitro.
abstract: Corticotropin releasing factor, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone either inhibit or enhance in a dose-dependent fashion an interleukin-4 (IL-4) driven human IgE synthesis in vitro. Here, we show that culture conditions strongly influence the earlier observed dose- and donor-dependent effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone. The effect of ACTH on IgE synthesis became only apparent late during culture periods, suggesting an indirect effect via the cellular microenvironment rather than by acting directly at the level of B-cell isotype switching. Thus, we studied other proopiomelanocortin (POMC) derived peptides and neuropeptides known to influence the cellular microenvironment. Indeed, similar modulatory effects on IgE synthesis were also observed by the addition of other proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides such as alpha-, beta-, and gamma-endorphins as well as by the opioid binding pentapeptide Leu-enkephalin. Furthermore the neuropeptide substance P accentuated an IL-4 or an IL-4 and anti-CD40 antibody driven class switch to IgE. In contrast to ACTH, substance P interfered not only with IgE synthesis but also with the synthesis of the other immunoglobulin isotypes. Thus, systemically acting neuroendocrine peptides such as ACTH and locally acting neuropeptides such as the enkephalins and substance P can modulate the magnitude of an IL-4 induced IgE response.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Immunology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aebischer
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stämpfli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miescher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Zürcher
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Stadler
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology; D018822:alpha-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000494:pharmacology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018823:gamma-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D015847:Interleukin-4; D013373:Substance P; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D000521:alpha-MSH; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D018822:alpha-Endorphin; D018823:gamma-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone