Augmentation of cytotoxicity by natural killer (NK) cells after adrenaline administration in man

After administration of 0.2 mg adrenaline subcutaneously to 8 healthy individuals, natural killer (NK) cell activity of peripheral mononuclear cells increased within 15-30 min (p less than 0.005) and returned to baseline values within two hours. The activity was correlated to plasma adrenaline concentration (r = 0.52, p less than 0.001). No changes in NK cell activity were observed in 3 control subjects receiving an injection of 0.2 ml saline.