title: Central opiate modulation of peripheral IL-6 in rats.
abstract: The effect of opiate agonists and antagonists on the induction of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), an inflammatory cytokine that plays a major role in the acute phase response, was studied. Morphine (10 micrograms, i.c.v. or 15 mg kg-1, i.p.), beta-endorphin (0.5 or 5 micrograms, i.c.v.) and etorphin (10 mg kg-1, i.p.) induced IL-6. Moreover, morphine potentiated the IL-6 response induced by IL-1 beta (400 ng, i.p. or i.c.v.). When injected intraperitoneally, the opiate antagonist naloxone hydrochloride, antagonized the IL-6 response induced by either i.c.v. or i.p. IL-1 beta. This effect was not seen with naloxone methiodide, which does not cross the blood-brain barrier. The data show that central opiates are effective modulators of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6.
authors.affiliation: Instituto di Richerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertolucci
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perego
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: De Simoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005048:Etorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009294:Narcotics; D009270:Naloxone; D005048:Etorphine; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D009020:Morphine