Morphine amplifies HIV-1 expression in chronically infected promonocytes cocultured with human brain cells.
Previous studies have shown that morphine promotes the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cocultures. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that morphine would amplify HIV-1 expression in the chronically infected promonocytic clone U1 when cocultured with lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human fetal brain cells. Marked upregulation of HIV-1 expression was observed in these cocultures (quantified by measurement of HIV-1 p24 antigen levels in supernatants), and treatment of brain cells with morphine resulted in a bell-shaped dose-dependent enhancement of viral expression. The mechanism of morphine's amplifying effect appears to be opioid receptor-mediated and to involve enhanced production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by microglial cells.
Peterson
P K
PK
Neuroimmunobiology and Host Defense Laboratory, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, MN 55404.
Gekker
G
G
Hu
S
S
Anderson
W R
WR
Kravitz
F
F
Portoghese
P S
PS
Balfour
H H
HH
Chao
C C
CC
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D016207:Cytokines; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009020:Morphine