Synthetic peptide VKGFY and its cyclic analog stimulate macrophage bactericidal activity through non-opioid beta-endorphin receptors

Influence of wideband visible light with an padding red component on the functional state of mice embryos and embryonic stem cells

It is known that visible light, including sunlight and laboratory lighting, adversely affect the development of embryos in vitro. In with article we present a technology for the synthesis of composite screens, capable to photoconvert UV and a part of the blue spectrum into red light with the maximum ~630 nm. It is established that the application of such transformed light with an evident red component raises the chances of embryos to survive and protects embryonic stem cells. To create photoconversion screens, the CdZn/Se quantum dots were obtained, the average size being about 7 nm. When the quantum dots are excited by electromagnetic waves of the UV and blue spectral range, photoluminescence is observed. The average photon energy for photoluminescence is of the order of 2 eV. On the basis of CdZn/Se quantum dots and methylphenylsiloxane polymer, light-transforming composite screens were made. In case of the light-transforming composite screen, the UV component disappeared from the energy spectrum, and the intensity of the blue region of the spectrum was reduced. On the contrary, in the red region (λ_max = 630 nm) one can see a little more than two-fold increase of intensity. It is shown that when exposed to 2-cell embryos by transformed light, the proportion of normally developing embryos increases by 20%, the number of dead embryos decreases twice, and number of dead and apoptotic cells was lower in blastocysts, what's decreased by 70%, as compared to the control group. When blastocysts are transferred to the feeder substrate, colonies of embryonic stem cells are formed. Cells obtained from blastocysts irradiated with transformed visible light are in a normal state in 90% of cases and did not change expression levels, biochemistry and morphology for at least 20 passages. It is assumed that the data obtained can be used for the design of systems of efficient cultivation of embryonic cells for tissue engineering and cell therapy.

[Octarphin--Nonopioid Peptide of the Opioid Origin]

The data on the properties and mechanism of action of the peptide octarphin (TPLVTLFK, the fragment 12-19 of β-endorphin)--a selective agonist of nonopioid (insensitive to the action of the opioid antagonist naloxone) β-endorphin receptor found on n immune cells (peritoneal macrophages, T and B lymphocytes of spleen and blood), endocrine (adrenal cortex, hypothalamus), cardiovascular (cardiomyocytes) systems are analyzed and systematized. Binding to the receptor octarphin increases increases the mitogen-induced pro- liferation of human and mouse T and B lymphocytes in vitro, activates murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro and in vivo, stimulates growth of human T-lymphoblast cell lines Jurkat and MT-4, inhibits adenylate cyclase activity of rat adrenal cortex membranes and suppresses the secretion of glucocorticoids from the adrenal gland into the blood. It was shown that in a concentration range of 1-1000 nM the peptide increases the activity of inducible NO-synthase (iNOS), and the content of NO and cGMP in lipopolysaccharide-activated murine peritoneal macrophages. Taking into account that NO acts as a primary activator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), it can be assumed that the activating effect of octarphin on macrophages is realized in the following way: increase in th iNOS expression --> increase in the NO production --> increase in the sGC activity --> increase in intracellular levels of cGMP.

Immunostimulating effect of the synthetic peptide octarphin corresponding to β-endorphin fragment 12-19

We have synthesized the peptide TPLVTLFK corresponding to β-endorphin fragment 12-19 (dubbed octarphin) and its analogs (LPLVTLFK, TLLVTLFK, TPLVLLFK, TPLVTLLK, TPLVTLFL). The octarphin peptide was labeled with tritium (specific activity 28 Ci/mol), and its binding to murine peritoneal macrophages was studied. [3H]Octarphin was found to bind to macrophages with high affinity (K(d) = 2.3 ± 0.2 nM) and specificity. The specific binding of [3H]octarphin was inhibited by unlabeled b-endorphin and the selective agonist of nonopioid b-endorphin receptor synthetic peptide immunorphin (SLTCLVKGFY) (K(i) = 2.7 ± 0.2 and 2.4 ± 0.2 nM, respectively) and was not inhibited by unlabeled naloxone, a-endorphin, γ-endorphin, or [Met(5)]enkephalin (K(i) > 10 mM). Inhibitory activity of unlabeled octarphin analogs was more than 100 times lower than that of unlabeled octarphin. Octarphin was shown to stimulate activity of murine immunocompetent cells in vitro and in vivo: at concentration of 1-10 nM it enhanced the adhesion and spreading of peritoneal macrophages as well as their ability to digest bacteria of Salmonella typhimurium virulent strain 415 in vitro; the peptide administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 20 µg/animal on day 7, 3, and 1 prior to isolation of cells increased activity of peritoneal macrophages as well as spleen T- and B-lymphocytes.

Nonopioid effect of β-endorphin

This review presents the generalized literature data and the results of our own research of the nonopioid effect of β-endorphin, an opioid neuropeptide interacting not only with opioid but also with nonopioid (insensitive to the opioid antagonist naloxone) receptors. The roles of the hormone and its receptors in regulation of the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems are discussed. The effect of neuromediator on the immune system mediated by both opioid and nonopioid receptors is considered in detail. The data on distribution and function of the nonopioid β-endorphin receptor in human and animal organisms are presented. All available data on the characteristics of the nonopioid β-endorphin receptor obtained by means of radioligand analysis are given. The discussed information is supposed to extend our conceptions of the role of β-endorphin in mammals and to be of extensive use in medicine and pharmacology.

[Effects and mechanism of action of synthetic peptide octarphin]

We have synthesized the peptide TPLVTLFK corresponding to the β-endorphin fragment 12-19 (the name given by the authors - octarphin), and its analogs (LPLVTLFK, TLLVTLFK, TPLVLLFK, TPLVTLLK, TPLVTLFL). The peptide octarphin was labeled with tritium (the specific activity of 28 Ci/mmol) and its binding to the murine peritoneal macrophages has been studied. [(3)H]Octarphin was found to bind to macrophages with high affinity (K(d) = 2.3 ± 0.2 nM) and specificity. The specific binding of [(3)H]octarphin is inhibited by unlabeled β-endorphin and selective agonist of non-opioid β-endorphin receptor synthetic peptide immunorphin (SLTCLVKGFY) (K(i) = 2.7 ± 0.2 and 2.4 ± 0.2 nM respectively) and not inhibited by unlabeled naloxone, α-endorphin, γ-endorphin and [Met(5)]enkephalin (K(i) > 10 μM). Inhibiting activity of unlabeled analogs of octarphin is more then 100 times lower the unlabeled octarphin. Octarphin stimulates activity of murine immunocompetent cells in vitro and in vivo: at the concentration of 1-10 nM enhances the adhesion and spreading of peritoneal macrophages as well as their capacity to digest bacteria of Salmonella typhimurium virulent strain 415 in vitro. Intraperitoneal administration of peptide at dose 20 μg/animal on day 7,3 and 1 prior to the isolation of cells increases activity of peritoneal macrophages as well as T- and B-spleen lymphocytes.

Binding of synthetic peptide TPLVTLFK to nonopioid beta-endorphin receptor on rat brain membranes

The synthetic peptide TPLVTLFK corresponding to the sequence 12-19 of beta-endorphin (referred to as octarphin) was found to bind to high-affinity naloxone-insensitive binding sites on membranes isolated from the rat brain cortex (K(d) = 2.6 +/- 0.2 nM). The binding specificity study revealed that these binding sites were insensitive not only to naloxone but also to alpha-endorphin, gamma-endorphin, [Met(5)]enkephalin, and [Leu(5)]enkephalin, as well. The [(3)H]octarphin specific binding with brain membranes was inhibited by unlabeled beta-endorphin (K(i) = 2.4 +/- 0.2 nM) and a selective agonist of nonopioid beta-endorphin receptor decapeptide immunorphin SLTCLVKGFY (K(i) = 2.9 +/- 0.2 nM). At the same time, unlabeled octarphin completely (by 100%) inhibited the specific binding of [(3)H]immunorphin with membranes (K(i) = 2.8 +/- 0.2 nM). Thus, octarphin binds with a high affinity and specificity to nonopioid receptor of beta-endorphin on rat brain cortex membranes.

Effect of morphine on Mycobacterium smegmatis infection in mice and macrophages

The immunomodulatory effects of opioids are known in various infections. However, little is known about the effects of opioids in tuberculosis (TB). In the present study, we report the effects of morphine in Mycobacterium smegmatis infection in mice and macrophages. Morphine exerted a dose-dependent suppression of infection in vivo: 50 and 100 mg/kg morphine exerted significant (P<0.05) suppression whereas 5 mg/kg morphine showed no effect. Analogous to the in vivo effects, incubation of M. smegmatis-infected mouse peritoneal macrophages with morphine (100 μM) showed significant reduction in intramacrophage CFU counts. However, morphine did not show any direct antimycobacterial activity in broth dilution assay upto 100 μM concentration. Further, morphine-induced intramacrophage killing of M. smegmatis was abrogated by naloxone and aminoguanidine indicating the involvement of opioid-receptor activation and nitric oxide production in protective effects of morphine. In conclusion, morphine suppressed the progression of experimental TB in both mice and macrophage models.

Effects of morphine during Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv infection in mice

The effects of opiates in various infections are well known; however, very little is known about tuberculosis infection. Therefore, in the present study, we report for the first time, the effects of morphine during murine tuberculosis. Mice were infected intravenously with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, administered morphine (0.1-100 mg/kg subcutaneously on day 0 and day +15) and sacrificed on day +30 for CFU enumeration in lungs and spleen. Morphine exerted maximum suppression of infection at 5 mg/kg, and sometimes completes elimination of infection; naloxone, silica and aminoguanidine blocked the protective effect of morphine. In vitro, morphine lacked direct antimycobacterial activity up to 1x10(-4) M concentration, as assessed by radiometric BACTEC method. In macrophage model of infection, morphine showed maximal killing at 1x10(-7) M concentration, the activity was blocked by naloxone and aminoguanidine. These observations suggest that morphine exerts a dose-dependent effect in murine tuberculosis, the protective effect being naloxone-reversible and may involve macrophage-mediated protective mechanisms. These results may be helpful in developing new opioid-like chemical entities against tuberculosis infection.

Beta-endorphin-like peptide SLTCLVKGFY reduces the production of 11-oxycorticosteroids by rat adrenal cortex through nonopioid beta-endorphin receptors

Beta-endorphin-like peptide immunorphin (SLTCLVKGFY), a selective agonist of nonopioid beta-endorphin receptor, was labeled with tritium to specific activity of 24 Ci/mmol. It was used for the detection and characterization of nonopioid beta-endorphin receptors on rat adrenal cortex membranes (Kd = 31.6 +/- 0.2 nM, Bmax = 37.4 +/- 2.2 pmol/mg protein). Immunorphin at concentrations of 10(-9) to 10(-6) M was found to inhibit the adenylate cyclase activity in adrenal cortex membranes, while intramuscular injection of immunorphin at doses of 10-100 microg/kg was found to reduce the secretion of 11-oxycorticosteroids from the adrenals to the bloodstream.