Evaluation of the Effect of β-Endorphin on IL-4 and γ-IFN Production by CD4+ Lymphocytes

β-Endorphin stimulates phytohemagglutinin-induced production of IL-4 and does not modify the production of γ-IFN in nonfractionated leukocyte suspension. In a culture of purified CD4⁺ T-cells, β-endorphin does not modify the levels of IL-4 and γ-IFN, but stimulates the production of IL-4 and inhibits γ-IFN production after addition of monocytes to CD4⁺ lymphocytes. Stimulation of IL-4 synthesis by β-endorphin is mediated by the cycloxygenase cycle products. Hence, β-endorphin shifts T-helper polarization towards Th2 cells with subsequent predominance of the humoral form of the immune response. Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 146, No. 10, pp. 427-430, October, 2008