[Endomorphins: structure, localization, immunoregulatory activity].

Endomorphins – endogenous tetrapeptides with the highest affinity for the µ-opioid receptor. Currently, two tetrapeptides that differ in one amino acid residue have been isolated and characterized. The structure of endomorphins differs from the structure of members of three main families of opioid peptides: endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins, which contain the same N-terminal sequence.

Effects of β-endorphin on the production of reactive oxygen species, IL-1β, Tnf-Α, and IL-10 by murine peritoneal macrophages in vivo.

It has been demonstrated that β-endorphin stimulates the zymosan-induced secretion of reactive oxygen species and suppresses the spontaneous production of IL-1β and IL-10 by murine peritoneal macrophages in vivo.

Trehalolipid biosurfactants from nonpathogenic Rhodococcus actinobacteria with diverse immunomodulatory activities.

Actinobacteria of the genus Rhodococcus produce trehalolipid biosurfactants with versatile biochemical properties and low toxicity. In recent years, these biosurfactants are increasingly studied as possible biomedical agents with expressed immunological activities. Applications of trehalolipids from Rhodococcus, predominantly cell-bound, in biomedicine are also attractive because their cost drawback could be less significant for high-value products.

Effects of β-endorphin on functional activity of mouse splenocytes under conditions of in vivo blockade of μ,δ-opioid receptors.

Blockade of δ-receptors with naltrindole under conditions of systemic immunization abolished the stimulatory effect of β-endorphin (0.0005 μg/kg) on the counts of antibody-producing cells and the titer of antierythrocyte antibodies. Injection of β-endorphin to mice led to stimulation of concanavalin A-induced proliferative activity of splenocytes and IL-4 secretion by the naloxone-dependent mechanism.

Effect of glycolipid Rhodococcus biosurfactant on secretory activity of neutrophils in vitro.

Glycolipid biosurfactant synthesized by nonpathogenic strain Rhodococcus ruber IEGM231 modulated the production of ROS and IL-8 by peripheral blood neutrophils in spontaneous and stimulated cultures. Secretion of IL-1β и TNF-α by neutrophils in the presence of biosurfactant changed insignificantly.