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 influenc e sequential metabolic events that accompany the movements of T-lympho cytes into the cell cycle. When cultured lymphocytes are exposed to th is endogenous opioid peptide an increase in polyamine transport across cell membrane is observed. This membrane modification is an early cel l 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 perceive d as an apoptotic signal. The possible relationship between induction of apoptotic death and enhancement of polyamine uptake is discussed. ( C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.