title: Beta-endorphin and the immune system--possible role in autoimmune diseases.
abstract: The immune system and the neuroendocrine system are closely interconnected having such means of bidirectional communication and regulation. In this review, a hypothesis is put forward regarding the possible role of beta-endorphins in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases: It is suggested that the increased cytokine production in immunoinflammatory disorders induces production of beta-endorphins from the pituitary and the lymphocytes; the enhanced level of beta-endorphin causes inhibition of human T helper cell function, which potentially down-regulate the antibody production. Also the beta-endorphin-induced enhancement of the natural killer cell activity may suppress the B cell function. In addition, beta-endorphin also exerts a direct inhibitory effect on the antibody production. Thus, in autoimmune disorders the enhanced cytokine level may via stimulation of the production of beta-endorphins exert a negative feed back on the antibody production and potentially so on the production of autoantibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mørch
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin