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Differential effects of beta-endorphin fragments on human natural killing
S A Williamson1, R A Knight, S L Lightman
1Department of Chemical Immunology, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, London, England.
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
|December 1, 1987
Abstract:
The endogenous opiate peptide, beta-endorphin, has two effects on human natural killing (NK). Preincubation of effector lymphocytes with between 10(-7) and 10(-11) M beta-endorphin increases NK. Preincubation with lower concentrations results in a reduction in NK. Endorphin peptides containing an unmodified N-terminal sequence, and which are known to bind only to opiate receptors, increase NK. Sequences reported to bind only to nonopiate receptors reduce NK.