Human lymphocytes lack substance P receptors.

Substance P (SP), a neuropeptide found in high concentrations in the gut, is reported to have many potent immunomodulatory actions. This study evaluated some effects of SP on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and jejunal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and the expression of SP receptors on these and other lymphocytes types. In contrast to previous studies, SP (10(-8) or 10(-12) M) did not affect the proliferation (spontaneous or mitogen-induced) nor spontaneous cytotoxicity by PBL or IEL. To determine whether this unresponsiveness was due to an absence of SP receptors, the SP binding potential of these and other human lymphocyte types was determined by Scatchard analysis of radioligand binding. The IM-9 B lymphoblastoid cell line, used as a positive control, demonstrated 4838 +/- 603 or 3131 +/- 832 receptors per cell, with a Kd of 0.21 +/- 0.01 or 0.18 +/- 0.09 nM, using [3H]SP or 125I-SP, respectively. No receptors were found on PBL, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, splenocytes, IEL, or jejunal lamina propria lymphocytes using either radioligand. These findings dispute the presence of large numbers of SP receptors on lymphocytes in peripheral blood, spleen, or intestinal mucosa, and argue against any major effect of SP on T cell proliferation or spontaneous cytotoxicity.