Met-enkephalin induces cytolytic processes of apoptotic type in K562 human erythroid leukemia cells

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Abstract
Cytolytic activity of Met-enkephalin, an endogenous opioid peptide, was studied within the 10−7−10−17 M concentration range in K562 human erythroid leukemia cells. Cytolytic activity was determined by the trypan blue inclusion method after 13, 15 and 18 h of Met-enkephalin co-incubation with target cells. Discrete maxima of cytolytic activity were detected at concentrations of 10−9−10−10, 10−13 and 10−15 M. Cytolysis was accompanied by internucleosomal DNA fragmentation which is indicative of the mechanism of cell death being apoptosis.