The biosurfactant glycolipid complex synthesized by Rhodococcus ruber actinobacteria is not toxic and exhibits no appreciable effect on proliferative activity of peripheral blood leukocytes. In the monocyte fraction, the biosurfactant activates the production of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha cytokines without modifying the production of IL-6. In the mononuclear fraction, the glycolipid biosurfactant exhibited no effects on the production of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-6. These results indicate good prospects for further studies of immunomodulating and antitumor activities of biosurfactant drug.

Glycolipid biosurfactant (GLB) from Rhodococcus ruber IEGM 231 was found to stimulate tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin (IL)

No abstract

Dynorphins constitute a family of opioid peptides manifesting the highest affinity for κ-opiate receptors. Immune system cells are known to express a κ-receptor similar to that in the central nervous system, and as a consequence dynorphins are involved in the interaction between cells of the nervous and immune systems. In this review, data on dynorphin structure are analyzed and generalized, the κ-opiate receptor is characterized, and data on the regulation by dynorphins of functioning of the innate and adaptive immunity cells are summarized.

The studies reported here showed that beta-endorphin at concentrations of 10(-7)-10(-11) M increased interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) production in unfractionated leukocyte suspensions both in the presence of 0.1 microg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and in cultures not stimulated with LPS. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) production by leukocytes was inhibited by beta-endorphin at concentrations of 10(-7) and 10(-11) M in the presence of LPS. The stimulatory effect of beta-endorphin on IL-1beta production was not blocked by naloxone or naltrindole. Suppression of IL-8 production was blocked by naloxone and naltrindole. In the mononuclear cell and neutrophil fractions, beta-endorphin and the delta agonist DADLE increased IL-1beta synthesis in both the spontaneous and stimulated versions of the test, while beta-endorphin and the delta agonist DADLE inhibited IL-8 production in the mononuclear cell and neutrophil fractions only in LPS-stimulated cultures. The mu agonist DAGO had no effect on IL-1beta production by mononuclear cells or neutrophils, though it suppressed LPS-induced secretion of IL-8 by neutrophils.

Endogenous opioid peptides comprise a group of bioregulatory factors involved in regulation of functional activity of various physiological systems of an organism. One of most important functions of endogenous opioids is their involvement in the interaction between cells of the nervous and immune systems. Summary data on the effects of opioid peptides on regulation of functions of innate immunity cells are presented.

beta-Endorphin in vivo produced different effects on antibody production depending on the administered dose. Blockade of opioid receptors with naloxone (but not naltrindole) abolished the effects of beta-endorphin. The peptide activated IL-4 production in vitro via activation of delta-opioid receptors.

Intraperitoneal injection of β-endorphin in doses of 1, 0.01, and 0.0005 μg/kg under conditions of systemic immunization increased the count of antibody-producing cells in the spleen and the titer of anti-erythrocyte antibodies in the plasma of experimental animals. Intraperitoneal β-endorphin stimulated proliferative activity of splenocytes in mice in the presence of both B- and T-cell mitogen, did not change the production of IFN-γ, reduced the level of IL-2, and stimulated the secretion of IL-4, the main Th2-polarizing factor.