Opioid modulation of immunocompetence: Receptor characterization and second messenger involvement

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6532012

Hemmick, L M

The purpose of this thesis was to examine the effects of opioids on several indices of immunocompetence, determined the receptor specificity of these effects, and ascertain whether the actions of opioids on lymphocytes could be correlated with activation of second messenger systems. By measuring {sup 45}Ca{sup 2+} uptake into lymphocytes, it was demonstrated that {beta}-endorphin 1-31 ({beta}-END 1-31) enhanced rat thymocyte Ca{sup 2+} uptake in response to concanavalin A (Con A) but not phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Related opioid peptides and alkaloids were unable to mimic the effect, and naloxone did not block it, suggesting that {beta}-END 1-31 acted by binding to specific, non-opioid receptors on the thymocytes. Rat splenocyte Con A-stimulated Ca{sup 2+} uptake was not affected by {beta}-END 1-31. {beta}-END 1-31 did not affect basal Ca{sup 2+} uptake by either cell type. Using ({sup 3}H)thymidine uptake as an index of lymphocyte proliferation, {beta}-END 1-31 and several related opioid peptides reversed prostaglandin E{sub 1} (PGE{sub 1}) suppression of rat lymph node cell Con A- and PHA-stimulated proliferation. Naloxone did not block the reversal. {beta}-END 1-31 was unable to reverse forskolin and cholera toxin suppression of proliferation, indicating that the lowering of cyclic AMP levels was not the mechanism involved. Verapamil inhibition of proliferation was also not reversed by {beta}-END 1-31, suggesting that promotion of Ca{sup 2+} influx was not a major mechanism involved.

• Research Organization: Rochester Univ., NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6532012
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AGGLUTININS
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ANTIBODIES
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
AZINES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CALCIUM 45
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM ISOTOPES
CARBOHYDRATES
CELL PROLIFERATION
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CONCANAVALIN
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DRUGS
ENDORPHINS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HEMAGGLUTININS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
KINETICS
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
METHADONE HYDROCHLORIDE
MITOGENS
MUCOPROTEINS
NARCOTICS
NEUROREGULATORS
NUCLEI
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININ
POLYSACCHARIDES
PROSTAGLANDINS
PROTEINS
PYRIMIDINES
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
REACTION KINETICS
RECEPTORS
RIBOSIDES
RODENTS
SACCHARIDES
SOMATIC CELLS
SPLEEN CELLS
THYMIDINE
THYMOCYTES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES