Interaction of met-enkephalin with human granulocytes

Abstract

Met-enkephalin has been found to have an effect on cell shape and motility of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Specific binding of tritium-labeled Met-enkephalin to the cells could not be demonstrated. There was a rapid proteolytic degradation of the peptide in the medium, followed by uptake of the labeled tyrosine. The peptidase recognizes the N-terminal sequence of various endogenous opioid peptides. The protease inhibitors bestatin and bacitracin had but little effect on the degradation of Met-Enk.