Morphine suppresses complement receptor expression, phagocytosis, and respiratory burst in neutrophils by a nitric oxide and mu(3) opiate receptor-dependent mechanism.
We investigated whether morphine and fentanyl influence surface receptor expression, phagocytic activity and superoxide anion generation of neutrophils in a whole blood flow cytometric assay. Morphine suppressed complement and Fcgamma receptor expression and neutrophil function in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Morphine-induced changes were similar to those caused by the nitric oxide (NO) donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine and were abolished by preincubation with the NO synthase inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine as well as naloxone. Fentanyl had no immunosuppressive effects. These results suggest that these neutrophil functions are inhibited by morphine-stimulated NO release mediated by the mu(3) opiate receptor subtype found on immunocytes.
Welters
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ID
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Rudolf-Buchheim-Str. 7, 35385, Giessen, Germany.
Menzebach
A
A
Goumon
Y
Y
Langefeld
T W
TW
Teschemacher
H
H
Hempelmann
G
G
Stefano
G B
GB
D005283:Fentanyl / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000378:metabolism; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000378:metabolism*; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D026423:S-Nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009294:Narcotics; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D011951:Receptors, Complement; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009270:Naloxone; D009020:Morphine; D026423:S-Nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine; D010396:Penicillamine; D005283:Fentanyl