Opioid Peptides Mediate the Suppressive Effect of Stress on Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 223; no. 4632; pp. 188 - 190
• Main Authors: Shavit, Yehuda, Lewis, James W., Terman, Gregory W., Gale, Robert Peter, Liebeskind, John C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC The American Association for the Advancement of Science 13-01-1984; American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Analgesia; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Cancer research; Causes of; Cell research; Cytological research; Cytotoxicity; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic - drug effects; Dosage; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endorphins - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Immune system; Immunobiology; Immunologic diseases; Immunologic research; Immunological research; Killer cells; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Modulation of the immune response (stimulation, suppression); Morphine; Morphine - pharmacology; Naltrexone - pharmacology; Natural killer cells; Oncology, Experimental; Opioid analgesics; Opioid peptides; Physiological aspects; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Stress (Physiology); Stress, Physiological - immunology; T lymphocytes; Tumors; Operant conditioning; Rat; Immunomodulation; Rodentia; Cytotoxicity; Opiates; Immunological method; Natural killer cell; Vertebrata; Immunosuppression; Mammalia; Animal; Peptide; Avoidance
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.6691146

The cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells was investigated in rats subjected to one of two inescapable footshock stress paradigms, both of which induce analgesia, but only one via activation of opioid mechanisms. Splenic natural killer cell activity was suppressed by the opioid, but not the nonopioid, form of stress. This suppression was blocked by the opioid antagonist naltrexone. Similar suppression of natural killer activity was induced by high doses of morphine. These results suggest that endogenous opioid peptides mediate the suppressive effect of certain forms of stress on natural killer cell cytotoxicity.