Some mechanisms of immunosuppressive action of epinephrine in humans

The studies were performed on 12 men (9 duodenal ulcer patients and 3 healthy controls) aged 19-23 years. They were given epinephrine in a dose of 0.014 mg/kg subcutaneously. Blood samples were drawn before and 30 and 150 min. after drug injection. The results obtained in the duodenal ulcer patients and controls revealed the same direction of changes. Epinephrine induced a significant increase in the absolute numbers of all investigated peripheral blood mononuclear cell subpopulations (total lymphocytes, T, Th, Ts, NK cells and monocytes) observed at 30 min. following injection, while they nearly normalized at 150 min. A Th/Ts cell number ratio slightly, but significantly, decreased. Epinephrine did not affect spontaneous IL-2 receptor expression and it significantly inhibited PHA-induced IL-2 receptor expression and IL-2 generation at 30 min. following injection. NK cell activity also decreased 30 min. after epinephrine administration and it was still lowered at 150 min. The drug very distinctly inhibited proliferative response in the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction test.