title: Opiate-induced inhibition of calcium flux in immune cells.
abstract: Administration of morphine as a subcutaneous implant inhibits the initial influx of calcium (Ca2+) induced by mitogens in mouse splenocytes. This effect was not reproduced by incubation of splenocytes with morphine (10(-8)-10(-4)M). Within T cell subpopulations, CD4+, but not CD8+ cells were affected. Adrenalectomy abolished this effect of morphine in CD4+ but not B cells. Moreover, simultaneous administration of the opiate antagonist naltrexone blocked the effect of morphine in B cells, but not in CD4+ cells. These data indicate that inhibition of Ca2+ influx by morphine may be mediated through distinct glucocorticoid-dependent and independent mechanisms. The morphine-induced inhibition of Ca2+ influx in immune cells reported here may be an early event mediating opiate-induced immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroscience, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sei
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fride
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimoto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skolnick
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Arora
mesh_terms: D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008934:Mitogens; D009294:Narcotics; D003208:Concanavalin A; D009020:Morphine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002118:Calcium; D003345:Corticosterone