title: Immune alterations in morphine-treated rhesus monkeys.
abstract: The effect of morphine treatment on immunocompetence was investigated in rhesus monkeys (Mucaca mulatta). Monkeys that received morphine daily (3.2 mg/kg) had suppressed peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) natural killer (NK) activity as well as a decrease in the percentage of CD8+CD16+ cells compared with saline-treated (controls) or infrequently treated (i.e., opioids once or twice weekly) monkeys. However, an increase (20 +/- 5%) in the percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes was found in both the daily and infrequent opioid-treated monkeys compared with controls. Conversely, the percentage of total CD4+ lymphocytes and CD4+CD45RA+ was reduced (12 +/- 2% and 28 +/- 10% respectively) in both daily and infrequent opioid-treated animals compared with saline-treated controls. In a reciprocal fashion, there was an increase in the CD4+CD29+ population in daily morphine-treated monkeys (54% of the total CD4+ cells) compared with untreated animals (37% of the total CD4+ cells). In addition, cultured PBMC obtained from monkeys treated daily with morphine produced significantly (P < .01) more polyclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) G (366 ng/ml) and polyclonal IgM (233 ng/ml) compared with PBMC production of polyclonal IgG (96 ng/ml) and polyclonal IgM (67 ng/ml) from saline-treated controls. However, no differences were found in the percentage of CD19+ lymphocytes among any of the groups. In summary, daily treatment with a relatively low dose of morphine (3.2 mg/kg) affects immunocompetence which could have important implications in the regulation of viral pathogens in i.v. drug abusers (e.g., AIDS).
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: France
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D019012:Integrin beta1; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D019012:Integrin beta1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D009020:Morphine; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens