Nerve growth factor stimulates production of neuropeptide Y in human lymphocytes.

The production of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in lymphocytes obtained from human tonsils
was investigated using radioimmunoassay. While unstimulated lymphocytes did not
produce detectable amounts of NPY, NPY synthesis was induced after cell
activation. Our results show that the addition of nerve growth factor (NGF) to
unstimulated lymphocytes has an effect similar to that of mitogens, both leading
to production of NPY. The study of purified B and T cells confirmed that only
activated cells are able to synthesize NPY. The stimulatory effect of NGF on NPY
production is not a common characteristic of all lymphocytes: only unstimulated T
cells respond to NGF by synthesizing NPY. No such effects is seen in purified B
cells.