Decreased levels of beta-endorphin in circulating mononuclear leukocytes from patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Lymphocytes can be activated to produce and release opioid peptides. We investigated the levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 11 patients with acute myocardial infarction. The concentrations of beta-endorphin in mononuclear leukocytes of 30.2 +/- 6.9 pg/10(6) cells on admission were in the normal range of 20-40 pg/10(6) cells and decreased significantly to 6.9 +/- 1.9 pg/10(6) cells after 48 h (p < 0.05). Decreased levels of mononuclear leukocyte-associated beta-endorphin in acute myocardial infarction may be due to the release of endogenous opioid after stimulation by stress and acute-phase reactants and play a role in inflammation and pain.
Intensive Care Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
T
T
Buratti
P
P
Schratzberger
S
S
Dunzendorfer
S E
SE
Manfreda
C
C
Pechlaner
M
M
Joannidis
P
P
Sacerdote
A E
AE
Panerai
C J
CJ
Wiedermann
D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
D001615:beta-Endorphin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein