Effect of carnosine and other alanyl dipeptides on human neutrophils and the u937 macrophage-like cell line

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine if carnosine and other alanyl dipeptides have an effect on human neutrophils and (79:37 cells in the aspects of respiratory burst, interleukin-1 (IL-t) production, and apoptosis. Carnosine was found to enhance the respiratory burst of human neutrophils but had no effect on the respiratory burst of U937 cells. Anserine and other alanyl dieptides were also found to enhance the respiratory burst of human neutrophils. Carnosine increased IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta production by human neutrophils but had no effect on the IL-1 production by 1,;937 (:ells. Among tile other alanyl dipeptides tested, only alanylhistidine was found to increase IL-1 production by human neutrophils. Carnosine suppressed apoptosis of human neutrophils but enhanced apoptosis of U937 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that carnosine has the capacity to modulate the immune response at least in human neutrophils.