Agonists of µ- and δ-Opioid Receptors in the Regulation of IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ Production by Peripheral Blood Cells in vitro

• Published in: Fiziologiia cheloveka Vol. 41; no. 3; p. 112
• Main Authors: Gein, S V, Tendryakova, S P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russia (Federation) 01-05-2015
• Subjects: beta-Endorphin - pharmacology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cells, Cultured; Coculture Techniques; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Interferon-gamma - blood; Interleukin-2 - blood; Interleukin-4 - blood; Monocytes - cytology; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - immunology; Opioid Peptides - pharmacology; Receptors, Opioid, delta - agonists; Receptors, Opioid, mu - agonists
• ISSN: 0131-1646
• DOI: 10.7868/s0131164615030054

It was found that β-endorphin stimulates the PHA (phytohemagglutinin)-induced production of interleukin-4 and has no affect on the production of interferon-gamma in unfractionated leukocytic suspension. In the culture of purified CD4+ T cells, β-endorphin does not affect the concentration of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ, but stimulates the production of IL-4 and inhibits the production of IFN-γ when adding monocytes to the culture. Selective δ-agonist DADLE enhances the PHA-induced production of IL-4 in unfractionated leukocytic suspension and in CD4+ lymphocytes+monocytes system. The synthesis of IFN-γ by purified CD4+ lymphocytes is not afected by the presence of DADLE, DAGO ad Deltorphin II; but when adding monocytes to the culture, the synthesis rate decreases. β-endorphin and selective μ-agonist DAGO enhance the production of IFN-γ by stimulated neutrophils. The production of IFN-γ in CD8+ lymphocytes is not affected by β-endorphin. Thus, opioid peptides have a predominantly Th2 polarizing effect, which is monocyte-mediated, hindering the development of cell response by inhibiting IFN-γ, and stimulating the production of I L-4 by activating δ-receptor. On the other hand, neutrophils can enhance the production of IFN-γ by stimulating μ-receptor.