EFFECT OF METHIONINE ENKEPHALIN ON MIGRATION OF MACROPHAGES FROM MICE WITH IMPAIRED LIVER

The increased plasma methionine enkephalin(M- Enk) concentration in patients with liver dis-eases indicates an alteration of the immune func-tion in these patients1] .Since the effects of opioidpeptide on modulation of immune system in humanbeing and animals under normal condition havebeen revealed,more interest has recently been fo-cused on conditions in stress as liver impairment2 ] .An attractive trend has emerged in the pastdecadethat in stress some neuropeptides may be secretedand relea…

EFFECT OF METHIONINE ENKEPHALIN ON MIGRATION OF MACROPHAGES FROM MICE WITH IMPAIRED LIVER

Objective To observe the effects of methionine enkephalin (M-Enk) on migration of macrophages from mice with impaired liver and its immunomodulatory mechanisms. Methods Liver of mice was impaired by feeding CCl4 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MMIF) was produced by Con A-stimulated spleen lympho- cytes. Inhibition of macrophage migration was measured in reaction system by adding M-Enk. Results Migration of macrophages in both liver-impaired and control group were suppressed by MMIF, but the suppression might be re- versed by adding 1 μmol/L M-Enk (P＜0. 05). M-Enk could significantly inhibit in vitro both of the combination of MMIF with macrophages and production of MMIF from lymphocytes (P＜0. 01). Macrophages from liver-imparied group showed a higher sensitivity compared to the control group (P＜0. 05). Conclusion The study suggests that opi- oid peptieds play an important role in the modulation of the immune response under stress as liver impairment.