Beta-endorphin content in HIV-infected HuT78 cell line and in peripheral lymphocytes from HIV-positive subjects.
Peptides
; 15(5): 769-75, 1994.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-7984493
ABSTRACT
We investigated beta-endorphin (BE) content in an HIV-infected cell line and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) from HIV-positive subjects. HIV infection increased BE content in HuT78 cell line compared to uninfected cells. Accordingly, BE content was greater in HIV-positive subjects than in healthy controls, both in fresh PBM and in mitogen-stimulated or unstimulated cultured cells. Further, in PHA-stimulated cultures, BE increase was correlated with disease progression. Opioids are known to decrease immune responsiveness in vivo, and it may be that the increased BE concentrations contribute to HIV-associated immune deficiency. In HIV-positive subjects, but not in healthy controls, intracellular BE concentration was positively correlated with PHA-induced PBM proliferation. The latter data suggest an alternative explanation that the increased BE content represents a paradoxical response of the host in an attempt to balance virus-induced immunodepression. Thus, BE may be important in fine-tuning of the immune response with its up- and downregulation dependent upon differences in immune status.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Beta-Endorphin
/
Lymphocytes
/
HIV Infections
/
HIV Seropositivity
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Peptides
Year:
1994
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: