title: Increased replication of Sendai virus in morphine-treated epithelial cells: evidence for the involvement of the intracellular levels of glutathione.
abstract: This paper shows that morphine increases Sendai virus replication in cultured epithelial cells. The effect was maximal when it was added before viral infection. Morphine also reduced the intracellular level of glutathione, namely, the oxidative and most abundant cell thiol. Altered intracellular redox status has recently been proposed as a factor influencing viral infection. Support for this view was provided by our data showing that inhibition of de novo glutathione synthesis, using L-buthionine sulfoximine, increased virus replication. These findings provide the first evidence that morphine increases the susceptibility to virus infection by altering the intracellular levels of glutathione.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Microbiology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Macchia
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Palamara
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bué
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Savini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciriolo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gaziano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: di Francesco
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000494:pharmacology; D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004285:Dogs; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018108:Respirovirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000963:Antimetabolites; D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine; D009020:Morphine; D005978:Glutathione