title: [Immunomodulator properties of ecstasy (MDMA)].
abstract: In vitro exposure to ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) alters some immune parameters such as T-cell regulatory function, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity, natural killer cell activity and macrophage function. Administration of MDMA in rats produces a suppression of lympho-proliferation response and a decrease in circulating lymphocytes, accompanied by an increase in plasma corticosterone. It was postulated a direct action of MDMA on lymphocytes or rather an indirect action mediated by the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA-AXIS) and/or the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Acute MDMA treatment effected on healthy-volunteers produces an immune dysfunction associated with pharmaceutical characteristics and so with MDMA plasma concentrations. There is a decrease in CD4+ T-cells and functional responsiveness of lymphocytes, while percentage of natural killer cells increases. A contemporary rise of cortisol plasma concentrations supports the hypothesis of MDMA-induced release of corticotrophin-releasing factor from the hypothalamus and subsequent HPA-axis and SNS activation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Biochimica Clinica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pacifici
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zuccaro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farré
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pichini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Roset
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortuño
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Segura
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hernández-López
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De La Torre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine