title: Effects of cocaine and morphine on IgG production by human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro.
abstract: Elevated serum levels of IgG are amongst the immunological abnormalities exhibited by intravenous drug addicts. We therefore addressed the hypothesis that cocaine and morphine (the major metabolite of heroin) exert a direct effect on human B cell function in vitro. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal individuals were incubated for 7 days with the T cell-dependent B cell activator pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and serial dilutions of either cocaine or morphine. At the end of this time total IgG was measured by use of a sandwich ELISA incorporating a biotin-labelled affinity-purified anti-IgG and streptavidin peroxidase. At concentrations relevant to those found in plasma, morphine and cocaine did not affect PWM-stimulated IgG synthesis in vitro. We suggest that these drugs of abuse do not directly influence human B cells, but in vivo exert immune modulatory effects via indirect mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson 85724.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D009020:Morphine; D003042:Cocaine