Novel processing pathway for proopiomelanocortin in lymphocytes: endotoxin induction of a new prohormone-cleaving enzyme.

We have discovered that the immune system processes proopiomelanocortin (POMC) products differently depending on the stimulus for induction. We have shown that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) induces the lymphocytes from C3HeB/FeJ lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-sensitive mice to produce adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) 1-39 and beta-endorphin, whereas LPS induces these lymphocytes to produce ACTH 1-23 to 26 and alpha- or gamma-endorphin. We have proposed that the smaller species of ACTH and endorphin are proteolytic cleavage products from ACTH 1-39 and beta-endorphin. Analysis of C3HeB/FeJ LPS-treatment B lymphocyte lysates showed an enzymatic activity at pH 5 but not pH 7 that cleaved ACTH 1-39 into a smaller ACTH 1-23 to 26. The B lymphocytes from C3H/HeJ (LPS-resistant) mice expressed but did not process proopiomelanocortin after LPS or CRF treatment, nor did their B cells express the aforementioned enzymatic activity. Taken together, these data suggest a unique processing pathway in LPS-treated B lymphocytes and one in which immunoreactive (ir)-endorphins may play a role in the pathophysiology of endotoxic shock.