Effect of chronic morphine administration on circulating T cell population dynamics in rhesus macaques

J Neuroimmunol. 2013 Dec 15;265(1-2):43-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2013.09.013. Epub 2013 Sep 20.

Abstract

Opioid receptor agonists modulate both innate and adaptive immune responses. In this study, we examined the impact of long-term chronic morphine administration on the circulating T cell population dynamics in rhesus macaques. We found that the numbers of circulating Treg cells, and the functional activity of Th17 cells, were significantly increased with chronic morphine exposure. Our results also show that T cell populations with surface markers characteristic of gut-homing (CD161 and CCR6) and HIV-1 susceptibility (CCR5 and β7 integrin) were increased. These results represent the first detailed report of the impact of chronic morphine administration on circulating T cell dynamics.

Keywords: FoxP3; IL-17A; Morphine; Th17 cells; Treg cells; β7 integrin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Cell Movement / drug effects*
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Macaca mulatta / immunology
  • Morphine / administration & dosage*
  • Narcotics / administration & dosage*
  • Receptors, CCR5 / metabolism
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / metabolism
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • T-Lymphocytes / classification*
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Interleukin-17
  • Narcotics
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • Morphine
  • Interferon-gamma