Abstract
Catecholamines have been suggested to be responsible for altered cellular immunity after stress. This study was performed to determine the effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline on lymphocyte subpopulations and NK cell functions. Subjects were given a subcutaneous injection of either NaCl, adrenaline (5 µg/kg), or noradrenaline (10 µg/kg). Catecholamine concentrations, subsets of peripheral blood lymphocytes, NK activity, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) were analyzed before (baseline) and 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min after injection. There were no differences between groups in the distribution of CD2+ and CD8+ lymphocytes over time. However, CD3+ and CD4+ T cells decreased significantly 5 to 60 min after injection of adrenaline. In contrast, NK cell numbers (CD16+, CD56+) increased significantly 5 min after injection of adrenaline and noradrenaline, reached the highest values 15 to 30 min postinjection, and subsequently declined to baseline values 60 (noradrenaline) and 120 (adrenaline) min, respectively, after injection. Similar alterations for NK activity and ADCC were observed after administration of both catecholamines. These data suggest that both sympatheticadrenal hormones are similarly potent modulators of natural immunity and provide further evidence that catecholamines might be responsible for the observed alterations in immune functions after phases of acute stress.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ader R, Felten DL, Cohen N: Psychoneuroimmunology. San Diego, Academic Press, 1991
Hercend T, Schmidt RE: Characteristics and uses of natural killer cells. Immunol Today 9:291–293, 1988
Trinchieri G, Biology of natural killer cells. Adv Immunol 47:187–376, 1989
Kappel M, Tvede N, Galbo H, Haahr PM, Kjaer M, Linstow M, Klarlund K, Pedersen BK: Evidence that the effect of physical exercise on NK cell activity is mediated by epinephrine. J Appl Physiol 70:2530–2534, 1991
Brahmi Z, Thomas JE, Park M, Park M, Dowdeswell IRG: The effect of acute exercise on natural killer-cell activity of trained and sedentary subjects. J Clin Immunol 5:321–328, 1985
Pedersen BK, Tvede N, Hansen FR, Andersen V, Bendix T, Bendixen G, Bendtzen K, Galbo H, Haahr PM, Klarlund K, Sylvest J, Thomsen BS, Halkjaer-Kristensen J: Modulation of natural killer cell activity in peripheral blood by physical exercise. Scand J Immunol 27:673–678, 1988
Glaser R, Rice J, Speicher CE, Stout JC, Kiecolt-Glaser JK: Stress depresses interferon production by leucocytes concomitant with a decrease in natural killer cell activity. Behav Neurosci 100:675–678, 1986
Irwin M, Daniels M, Smith TL, Bloom E, Weiner H: Impaired natural killer activity during bereavement. Brain Behav Immun 1:98–104, 1987
Naliboff BD, Benton D, Solomon GF, Morley JE, Fahey JL, Bloom ET, Makinodan T, Gilmore SL: Immunological changes in young and old adults during brief laboratory stress. Psychosom Med 53:121–132, 1991
Brosschot JF, Benschop RJ, Godaert GLR, de Smet MBM, Olff M, Heijnen CJ, Ballieux RE: Effects of experimental psychological stress on distribution and function of peripheral blood cells. Psychosom Med 54:394–406, 1992
Plaut M: Lymphocyte hormone receptor. Annu Rev Immunol 5:621–669, 1987
Khansari DN, Murgo AJ, Faith RE: Effects of stress on the immune system. Immunol Today 11:170–175, 1990
Takamoto T, Hori Y, Koga Y, Toshima H, Hara A, Yokoyama MM: Norepinephrine inhibits human natural killer cell activity in vitro. Int J Neurosci 58:127–131, 1991
Hellstrand K, Hermodsson S: An immunopharmacological analysis of adrenaline-induced suppression of human natural killer cell cytotoxicity. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 89:334–341, 1989
Crary B, Hauser SL, Borysenko M, Kutz I, Hoban C, Ault KA, Weiner HL, Benson H: Epinephrine-induced changes in the distribution of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of humans. J Immunol 131:1178–1181, 1983
Tønnesen E, Tønnesen J, Christensen NJ: Augmentation of cytotoxicity by natural killer (NK) cells after adrenaline administration in man. Acta Path Microbiol Immunol Scand Sect C 92:81–83, 1984
Tønnesen E, Christensen NJ, Brinkløv MM: Natural killer cell activity during cortisol and adrenaline infusion in healthy volunteers. Eur J Clin Invest 17:497–503, 1987
Van Tits LJH, Michel MC, Grosse-Wilde H, Happel M, Eigler FW, Soliman A, Brodde OE: Catecholamines increase lymphocyte β2-adrenergic receptors via a β2-adrenergic, spleen-dependent process. Am J Physiol 258:E191-E202, 1990
Maisel AS, Harris T, Rearden CA, Michel MC: β-adrenergic receptors in lymphocyte subsets after exercise. Circulation 82:2003–2010, 1990
Landmann R: Beta-adrenergic receptors in human leukocyte subpopulations. Eur J Clin Invest 22(Suppl 1):30–36, 1992
Schedlowski M, Jacobs R, Stratmann G, Richter S, Hädicke A, Tewes U, Wagner TOF, Schmidt RE: Changes of natural killer cells during acute psychological stress. J Clin Immunol 13:119–126, 1993
Nieman DC, Nehlsen-Cannarella SL, Donohue KM, Chritton DBW, Haddock BL, Stout RW, Lee JW: The effect of acute moderate exercise on leukocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations. Med Sci Sport Exer 23:578–585, 1991
Kendall A, Hoffman-Goetz L, Houston M, MacNeil B, Arumugam Y: Exercise and blood lymphocyte subset responses: Intensity, duration, and subject fitness effects. J Appl Physiol 69:251–260, 1990
Kiparski Rv, Steffens HP: Possibilities of wireless recording of biosignals by means of digital memories. Biomed Tech 30:76–84, 1985
Knapp W, Dörken B, Gilks WR, Rieber EP, Schmidt RE, Stein H, Kr. von dem Born AEG: Leukocyte Typing IV. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1989
Schmidt RE, Bartley G, Levine H, Schlossmann SF, Ritz J: Functional characterization of LFA-1 antigens in the interaction of human NK clones and target cells. J Immunol 135:1020–1025, 1985
Schmidt RE, Mac Dermott RP, Bartley GT, Bertovich M, Amato DA, Austen KF, Schlossman SF, Stevens RL, Ritz J: Specific release of proteoglycans from human natural killer cells during target lysis. Nature 318:289–291, 1985
Pross HF, Baines MG, Rubin P, Shragge P, Patterson MS: Spontaneous human lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor target cells. IX. The quantitation of natural killer cell activity. J Clin Immunol 1:51–63, 1981
Vasey MW, Thayer JF: The continuing problem of false positives in repeated measures ANOVA in psychophysiology: A multivariate solution. Psychophysiology 24:479–486, 1987
Landmann RMA, Müller FB, Perini CH, Wesp M, Erne P, Bühler FR: Changes of immunoregulatory cells induced by psychological and physical stress: Relationship to plasma catecholamines. Clin Exp Immunol 58:127–135, 1984
Van Tits LJH, Michel MC, Grosse-Wilde H, Happel M, Eigler FW, Soliman A, Brodde OE: Catecholamines increase lymphocyte β2-adrenergic receptors via a β2-adrenergic, spleen-dependent process. Am J Physiol 258:E191-E202, 1990
Felten DL, Felten SY, Bellinger DL, Carlson SL, Ackerman KD, Madden KS, Olschowki JA, Livnat S: Noradrenergic sympathetic neural interactions with the immune system: Structure and function. Immunol Rev 100:225–260, 1987
Locke S, Kraus L, Kutz I, Edbril S, Phillips K, Benson H: Altered natural killer activity during norepinephrine infusion in humans.In Neuroimmunomodulation, NH Spector (ed). Proceedings of the First International Workshop on Neuroimmunomodulation. Bethesda, MD, 1984, p 297
Gader AMA, Cash JD: The effect of adrenaline, noradrenaline, isoprenaline and salbutamol on the resting levels of white blood cells in man. Scand J Haematol 14:5–10, 1975
Titinchi S, Clark B: Alpha2-adrenoceptors in human lymphocytes: Direct characterization by [3H] yohimbine binding. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 121:1–7, 1984
Borda ES, de Bracco MME, Leiros CP, Sterin-Borda L: Expression of α-adrenoceptor in a human transformed lymphoblastoid cell line. J Neuroimmunol 29:165–172, 1990
Felsner P, Hofer D, Rinner I, Mangge H, Gruber M, Korsatko W, Schauenstein K. Continuous in vivo treatment with catecholamines suppresses in vitro reactivity of rat peripheral blood T-lymphocytes via α-mediated mechanisms. J Neuroimmunol 37:47–57, 1992
Madden KS, Livnat S: Catecholamine action and immunologic reactivity.In Psychoneuroimmunology, R Ader, DL Felten, N Cohen. (eds). San Diego, Academic Press, 1991, pp 283–310
Sibinga NES, Goldstein A: Opioid peptides and opioid receptors in cells of the immune system. Annu Rev Immunol 6:219–249, 1988
Heijnen CJ, Kavelaars A, Ballieux RE: β-Endorphin: Cytokine and neuropeptide. Immunol Rev 119:41–63, 1991
Shimizu Y, Newman W, Tanaka Y, Shaw S: Lymphocyte interaction with endothelial cells. Immunol Today 13:106–112, 1992
Westermann J, Pabst R: Distribution of lymphocyte subsets and natural killer cells in the human body. Clin Invest 70:539–544, 1992
Toft P, Tonnesen E, Svendsen P, Rasmussen JW, Christensen NJ: The redistribution of lymphocytes during adrenaline infusion. An in vivo study with radiolabeled cells. APMIS 100:593–597, 1992
Ottaway CA, Husband AJ: Central nervous system influences on lymphocyte migration. Brain Behav Immun 6:97–116, 1992
Luecken LJ, Lysle DT: Evidence for the involvement of β-adrenergic receptors in conditioned immunomodulation. J Neuroimmunol 38:209–220, 1992
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schedlowski, M., Falk, A., Rohne, A. et al. Catecholamines induce alterations of distribution and activity of human natural killer (NK) cells. J Clin Immunol 13, 344–351 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00920243
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00920243