Beta-endorphin modulates T-cell intracellular calcium flux and c-myc expression via a potassium channel

Multiple Sclerosis and the Endogenous Opioid System

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation, neuronal degeneration and demyelinating lesions within the central nervous system. The mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis and progression of MS are not fully known and current therapies have limited efficacy. Preclinical investigations using the murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS, as well as clinical observations in patients with MS, provide converging lines of evidence implicating the endogenous opioid system in the pathogenesis of this disease. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that endogenous opioid peptides, binding μ- (MOR), κ- (KOR) and δ-opioid receptors (DOR), function as immunomodulatory molecules within both the immune and nervous systems. The endogenous opioid system is also well known to play a role in the development of chronic pain and negative affect, both of which are common comorbidities in MS. As such, dysregulation of the opioid system may be a mechanism that contributes to the pathogenesis of MS and associated symptoms. Here, we review the evidence for a connection between the endogenous opioid system and MS. We further explore the mechanisms by which opioidergic signaling might contribute to the pathophysiology and symptomatology of MS.

Dopamine exerts no acute effects on Kv1.3 in activated encephalitogenic T cells

Apart from a central function in the extrapyramidal motor system, dopamine has been suggested to play a role in neuroimmune interactions. Particularly in diseases of the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, alterations in dopamine homeostasis might have immunological consequences. We investigated potential effects of dopamine stabilized by ascorbic acid on specifically activated encephalitogenic T cells at the peak of activation. Those cells exhibited an upregulation of voltage-sensitive K+ channels which play a role in many neurotransmitter responses of lymphocytes and fulfilled a prerequisite to respond to dopamine, i.e. stable expression of mRNA for dopamine receptors DRD1, DRD2 and DRD3. However, whole-cell and perforated whole-cell recordings revealed no change in voltage-sensitive K+ currents. Moreover, T cell proliferation was not changed in the presence of dopamine. Previously reported dopamine effects on T cells may be explained by a comparatively lower activation of the cells under investigation, suggesting an activation dependence of dopamine effects that may not be mediated by K+ channels. Alternatively, the occurrence of dopamine degradation products under unprotected conditions may account for the changes reported. Nevertheless, care should be taken when using the dopamine-protecting anti-oxidant ascorbic acid, since we found that it markedly inhibited both K+ currents and lymphocyte proliferation at higher concentrations.

Proopiomelanocortin and the immune-neuroendocrine connection

This presentation will cover the history, recent developments in, and implications of the ability of both the immune and neuroendocrine systems to produce POMC. The discovery of POMC in immune cells was one of the events that heralded a molecular understanding of neuroimmunomodulation. This, together with the presence of opiate and ACTH receptors on lymphocytes and macrophages, provided the first biochemical circuit for which the same signal molecules and receptors could be used for intrasystem regulation, as well as bidirectional communication between the immune and neuroendocrine systems. Today we have a quite good understanding of the regulation and processing of POMC in immune cells, as well as the interaction of its product peptides with other cytokines. For instance, IL-1 causes POMC production by immune cells, and the POMC product, alpha-MSH, in turn, acts functionally as an IL-1 antagonist. In the past year, the expression of full-length POMC mRNA has been reported and this solved one of the paradoxes with respect to POMC production, processing, and secretion. We provide data on these developments together with quite startling findings on the physiologic function of POMC peptides in the immune system. Among these are the local antinociceptive effects of immune cell-derived beta-endorphin, altered hematopoiesis in opiate receptor-deficient animals, and the diagnosis of ACTH insensitivity by a deficiency of ACTH receptors on lymphocytes.

Effect of the opioid methionine enkephalinamide on signal transduction in human T-lymphocytes

T cell receptor (TCR/CD3) induced fluctuations in intracellular free ionizied calcium, [Ca2+]i, was analysed in the human T leukemia cell clone, Jurkat, cultured in the presence of the opioid methionine enkephalinamide (Met-Enk) in titrated concentrations (10[-7] to 10[-15] M) or saline (PBS). In the majority of individual experiments, the activation-induced fluctuations in [Ca2+]i were similar in cells cultured in the presence of Met-Enk and PBS, respectively. However, when all the experimental data from 101 separate TCR/CD3-activation experiments with Met-Enk were compared with the 67 separate control experiments, we found that a fraction (20-40%) of the individual sets of Met-Enk experiments responded significantly different when compared to PBS-controls. In this fraction of experiments the increase in [Ca2+]i after ligation of the TCR/CD3 complex was extremely slow compared to controls. Moreover, the levels of [Ca2+]i in this particular fraction were lower than control levels prior to ligation of the TCR/CD3 complex. The data support the idea that signal transduction in T cells can be influenced by endogenous opioid. The data therefore give credit to the evolving hypothesis of a functional relationship between the neuroendocrine system and the immune system.

Resuspension-induced ion flux

Pelleting and resuspension of Fura 2-labeled c6 glioma cells leads to a large Ca flux characterized by a high initial internal level of Ca which rapidly declines to close to basal levels. The effect has been termed resuspension-induced ion flux (RIIF). The RIIF effect is temperature dependent and requires external calcium, cytoskeletal integrity, and functional calcium and potassium channels. The magnitude of the RIIF effect is dependent upon pelleting speed, suggesting cell contact and reduction in external fluid medium to be important causative parameters. Several other cell species also exhibit the RIIF effect.

Effect of beta-endorphin on cell growth and cell death in human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Beta-endorphin (beta-end) was investigated for its ability to influence sequential metabolic events that accompany the movements of T-lymphocytes into the cell cycle. When cultured lymphocytes are exposed to this endogenous opioid peptide an increase in polyamine transport across cell membrane is observed. This membrane modification is an early cell cycle event, whose enhancement leads to the intracellular polyamine accumulation. It is shown that beta-end is able to enhance spermidine transport and that the exposition of cells to this peptide is perceived as an apoptotic signal. The possible relationship between induction of apoptotic death and enhancement of polyamine uptake is discussed.

The K channel blocker, tetraethylammonium, displaces beta-endorphin and naloxone from T-cell binding sites

Beta-endorphin and naloxone bind to Jurkat cell membrane preparations and can mutually displace each other from membrane binding sites. Tetraethylammonium ion, a potassium channel blocker, competitively displaces beta-endorphin and naloxone from membrane binding sites. Mitogen stimulated calcium ion flux is inhibited by tetraethyl ammonium and this inhibition is relieved by naloxone. With data derived from whole cell calcium ion flux studies, we accurately calculated the competitive displacement of beta-endorphin and naloxone from membrane preparations by tetraethylammonium thus showing that the action of these agents on potassium channels does not require second messengers. Using the resuspension induced ion flux technique, we find that beta-endorphin competes against naloxone for binding to Jurkat cells and naloxone competes against charybdotoxin, a potassium channel inhibitor, which like tetraethylammonium, is known to bind to the outer vestibule of the channel. Patch clamp electrophysiological studies show that beta-endorphin and naloxone exert complex actions on potassium channels in the presence or absence of mitogens. We conclude that one molecule of beta-endorphin or naloxone, but not both at the same time, bind to an area near the charybdotoxin/tetraethylammonium binding locus of Jurkat potassium channels.

Exogenous and endogenous opioids as biological response modifiers

Narcotic opioid compounds are among the most widely prescribed drug interventions for individuals suffering pain. Among the unwarranted side effects of respiratory depression, constipation, and physical dependence are the immunosuppressive qualities, particularly those which affect cell-mediated immunity. The immunosuppressive characteristics of opioid narcotics (e.g., morphine) have recently come into focus with the advent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the putative causative agent, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Specifically, a vast reservoir of HIV-1-infected individuals exists among drug abusers. Moreover, experimental evidence would suggest narcotic opioids may increase viral load in infected individuals by modifying the cellular machinery of activated leukocytes. Likewise, investigators have shown that opioids modify tumor growth and development. In this review, a comparison between endogenous opioid peptides and exogenous opiates on cell-mediated immunity and its relationship to viral infection and tumors is described.

Influence of ion channel modulation on in vitro interferon-gamma induced MHC class I and II expression on macrophages

The in vitro effect of K+ channel blockers quinidine and verapamil, anion channel blocker SITS and K+ channel openers diazoxide, pinacidil, and BRL 38227 on interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induced MHC class I and II expression of Lewis rat peritoneal macrophages was investigated by cell ELISA assay. MHC class I expression was significantly enhanced by diazoxide at concentrations of 10(-5)M to 10(-6)M and by pinacidil and BRL 38227 at the concentration of 10(-6)M. MHC class II expression was enhanced by pinacidil and BRL 38227 at concentrations of 10(-5)M to 10(-6)M. The enhancing effect of pinacidil could be blocked by inhibitors of the protein kinases PKA and PKC suggesting that activation of both is required for optimum induction of MHC molecule expression. K+ and anion channel blockers were less active in modulation of MHC molecule expression. Verapamil had no influence, quinidine suppressed MHC class I expression at concentrations of 10(-4)M to 10(-5)M, and SITS suppressed MHC class I expression at the concentration of 10(-3)M. Since MHC class II expression is essential for efficient antigen presentation to T helper cells and MHC class I expression is required for target cell lysis by cytotoxic T cells, ion channel modulating drugs may be potential candidates for immunopharmacological intervention in inflammatory diseases.

Beta-endorphin and the immune system--possible role in autoimmune diseases

The immune system and the neuroendocrine system are closely interconnected having such means of bidirectional communication and regulation. In this review, a hypothesis is put forward regarding the possible role of beta-endorphins in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases: It is suggested that the increased cytokine production in immunoinflammatory disorders induces production of beta-endorphins from the pituitary and the lymphocytes; the enhanced level of beta-endorphin causes inhibition of human T helper cell function, which potentially down-regulate the antibody production. Also the beta-endorphin-induced enhancement of the natural killer cell activity may suppress the B cell function. In addition, beta-endorphin also exerts a direct inhibitory effect on the antibody production. Thus, in autoimmune disorders the enhanced cytokine level may via stimulation of the production of beta-endorphins exert a negative feed back on the antibody production and potentially so on the production of autoantibodies.

Beta-endorphin modulates calcium channel activity in human neutrophils

10(-6) M n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) stimulated Ca2+ flux in human neutrophils is characterized by a profile composed of two peaks of different amplitude and breadth. beta-Endorphin inhibited the magnitude and modulated the kinetics of the second peak in a manner which was dose-dependent and could reflect either negative cooperativity or heterogeneity of binding sites. The second peak arises from calcium channel activity since in the presence of nifedipine or EGTA it was not evident while the first peak was reduced about 24%. Similarly, at 15 degrees C, where we were unable to detect any channel activity, the first peak was diminished by 35% and beta-endorphin had no detectable effect on this peak. These results led us to conclude that the first peak is chiefly composed of Ca2+ recruited from cytosolic stores which are relatively insensitive to the above treatments and a smaller fraction of calcium originating in calcium channel activity. Hence, we reason that beta-endorphin modulates only the calcium ion flux arising from calcium channel function.

Characterization of a novel mRNA expressed by neurons in mature brain

In previous studies, differential hybridization screening of an activated murine T-lymphocyte cDNA library identified an interleukin 2-responsive mRNA, designated F5, expressed in lymphoid tissues and brain only. We now report characterization of a full-length clone isolated from an adult mouse brain cDNA library. Neither the nucleic acid nor amino acid sequences demonstrated similarity to reported sequences. On Southern blotting, the protein coding sequence hybridized to genomic DNA from a variety of species. On Northern blotting, F5 mRNA was expressed in adult mouse brain, spinal cord, eye, and dorsal root ganglia but not in peripheral nerve. In situ hybridization studies demonstrated prominent expression by neurons in brain. F5 mRNA expression was undetectable in embryonic rat cerebral hemisphere and low until postnatal day 21. F5 is a novel mRNA selectively expressed by proliferating lymphocytes and mature neurons.

Beta-endorphin's modulation of lymphocyte proliferation is dose, donor, and time dependent

We find that beta-endorphin (Bend) can have, positive, negative, or neutral dose-dependent effects on the mitogen-stimulated proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The distribution of positive, negative, or neutral responses was nonrandom. In studies carried out over a year, we show that an individual's mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferative response to Bend can change with time. We show that the inhibition induced by cortisol can be, in part, relieved by Bend. On the basis of our results and those of others in the field, we put forward a model that can qualitatively account for many of the observations we and other investigators have made.