β-endorphin modulation of interferon-γ, perforin and granzyme B levels in splenic NK cells:: Effects of ethanol

The effects of ethanol and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) on productions of cytolytic factors granzyme 13, perform and IFN-gamma in splenic rat NK cells were determined. Intracranial administration of beta-EP increased protein and mRNA levels of cytolytic factors in NK cells. Chronic ethanol feeding reduced the basal and beta-EP-induced levels of cytolytic factors in NK cells. In vitro treatment of beta-EP on NK cells increased the levels of perforin, granzyme B and IFN-gamma and their mRNA transcripts, whereas ethanol pre-treatment prevented beta-EP effects on cytolytic factors in these cells. These results suggest that beta-EP and ethanol interact to regulate NK cell functions. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.