Immunomodulating effects of methionine enkephalin.
Methionine enkephalin (Met-Enk), the endogenous neuropeptide, is suggested to be involved in the regulatory loop between immune and neuroendocrine systems. Our studies showed that Met-Enk over a wide range of concentrations increased interleukin-1 (IL-1) production from mouse peritoneal macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and naloxone did not block the enhancing effect. Met-Enk promoted the proliferation of mouse splenocyte and the production of IL-2 and IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner. The up-regulating effects of IL-2 and IL-6 not only augmented their mRNA transcription but also increased their stability. Thus Met-Enk appears to be an important immunomodulatory signaling molecule to exert regulatory actions concerned with the expressing of pre-inflammatory cytokines.
Li
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Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
D000818:Animals; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine