title: Granulocyte defects and opioid receptors in chronic exposure to heroin or methadone in humans.
abstract: In order to elucidate better the immunological effect of opioid abuse in the absence of HIV infection as a confounding factor, granulocyte function was investigated in three groups of HIV-negative subjects, including 20 active parenteral heroin abusers (H), 20 long-term methadone-maintained former opiate abusers (M) and 20 healthy controls (C). Chemotaxis to N-formyl methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), casein and activated plasma were markedly and similarly reduced (approx. 50%) in both H and M groups, as was true for superoxide production after fMLP and PMA stimulation, 47% decrease of C values. Polymorphonuclear (PMN) of H and M subjects also exhibited a very marked and similar reduction in the expression of CD11b/CD18 integrin receptors after fMLP treatment, with values that were less than 10% of those in controls, as observed by flow cytometry. In parallel, PMN of H and M individuals presented an approximately four-fold increase in opioid receptors numbers compared to controls, a significant inverse correlation existing between the increase in opiate receptors and defective chemotaxis. The possible mechanism underlying the observed changes in PMN of H and M individuals is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, IRCCS San Matteo Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzone
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mazzucchelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fossati
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gritti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fea
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ricevuti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000276:immunology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000187:drug effects*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D013481:Superoxides; D008691:Methadone