Adrenergic beta 1- and beta 1 + 2-receptor blockade suppress the natural killer cell response to head-up tilt in humans.
To evaluate stress-induced changes in blood leukocytes with emphasis on the natural killer (NK) cells, eight male volunteers were followed during three trials of head-up tilt with adrenergic beta 1- (metoprolol) and beta 1 + 2- (propranolol) blockade and with saline (control) infusions. The beta 1- and beta 1 + 2-receptor blockade did not affect the appearance of presyncopal symptoms, but the head-up tilt induced a transient lymphocytosis that was abolished by beta 1 + 2-receptor blockade but not by beta 1-receptor blockade. Head-up tilt also resulted in delayed neutrophilia, which was insensitive to beta-receptor blockade. Lymphocyte subset analysis revealed that the head-up tilt resulted in a twofold increase in the percentage and absolute number of CD3-/CD16+ and CD3-/CD56+ NK cells in peripheral blood and that this increase was partially blocked by metoprolol and abolished by propranolol. The NK cell activity on a per NK cell basis did not change during head-up tilt, indicating that the cytotoxic capability of NK cells recruited to circulation is unchanged. The data suggest that the head-up tilt-induced lymphocytosis was due mainly to CD16+ and CD56+ NK cells and that their recruitment to the blood was inhibited by beta 1- and especially beta 1 + 2-receptor blockade. Thus stress-induced recruitment of lymphocytes, and of NK cells in particular, is mediated by epinephrine through activation of beta-receptors on the lymphocytes.
Klokker
M
M
Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen Muscle Research Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Klokker@dk-online.dk
Secher
N H
NH
Madsen
P
P
Pedersen
M
M
Pedersen
B K
BK
D058671:Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists; D058672:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000473:pathology
D058671:Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists; D058672:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D011433:Propranolol; D008790:Metoprolol