MODULATION OF CHEMILUMINESCENCE IN A MURINE MACROPHAGE CELL-LINE BY NEUROENDOCRINE HORMONES

This study determined the effects of neuropeptides and neuroendocrine hormones at the cellular level of the immune response using a murine m acrophage cell line, J774, which exhibits a chemiluminescent oxidative burst upon acute stimulation with zymosan. We report that the zymosan -triggered oxidative burst of J774 cells can be modulated by the opioi d peptides beta-endorphin (beta-END) and dynorphin A (DYN) in a naloxo ne-reversible fashion. Norepinephrine (NE) also modulated chemilumines cence (CL) emission of J774 cells, with dose-dependent suppression of CL dependent upon co-incubation with gamma-interferon (gamma-INF). Wit hout gamma-INF co-incubation, NE shared with the opioid peptides beta- END and DYN the ability to modulate oxidative burst, producing an inve rted-U dose response. These data indicate that J774 cells may be usefu l for explaining some mechanisms through which the neuroendocrine syst em interacts with the immune system.