[Opioid receptors and phagocyte defects in drug addicts].
In order to better elucidate the immunological effect of opioid abuse in the absence of HIV infection as a confounding factor, granulocyte function was investigated in 3 groups of HIV negative subjects including 20 active parenteral heroin abusers (E), 20 long-treatment methadone-maintained former opiate abusers (M) and 20 healthy controls. Chemotaxis to fMLP, casein and activated plasma were markedly and similarly reduced (approximately 50%) in both E and M groups, as true for superoxide production after fMLP and PMA stimulation, 47% decrease of C values. PMNs of E 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 lower than 10% of those in controls as observed by flow cytometry. In parallel, PMNs of E and M individuals presented an approximately four fold increase in opioid receptors number compared to controls, a significant inverse correlation existing between the increase in opiate receptors and defective chemotaxis. The possible mechanism retaining the observed changes in PMNs of E and M individuals are discussed.
Mazzone
A
A
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Terapia Medica, Università, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia.
Fossati
G
G
Mazzucchelli
I
I
Gritti
D
D
Canale
C
C
Ricevuti
G
G
D018845:CD11 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000502:physiology*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
D018845:CD11 Antigens; D018821:CD18 Antigens; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D013481:Superoxides; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine