(S)-(+)-methadone is more immunosuppressive than the potent analgesic (R)-(--)-methadone.
Methadone is a widely used synthetic opioid which is administered as a racemic mixture of (R)-(--)- and (S)-(+)-enantiomers, with only (R)-(--)-methadone possessing mu opioid receptor agonist activity. Methadone inhibits numerous immune functions in vitro at concentrations above 10 microM in a nonstereoselective and naloxone-insensitive fashion, suggesting the presence of nonclassical opioid receptors on immune cells. No in vivo data on the effects of methadone's enantiomers on immune function are available. Therefore, the stereoselectivity of methadone's analgesia (hot plate latency) in vivo and immune suppression ex vivo (splenocyte proliferation) was investigated in groups of Balb/c mice. Significant analgesia was observed in animals that received racemic methadone (P=0.0012, 52% MPE) and (R)-(--)-methadone (P=0.0002, 70% MPE) when compared to saline-treated controls, while (S)-(+)-methadone was devoid of any such effect (-4% MPE). In vivo (R)-(--)- and racemic methadone caused significant inhibition (P<0.001, greater than -70%) of basal proliferation compared to saline control. In stark contrast to analgesia, in vivo (S)-(+)-methadone caused significantly greater inhibition of basal proliferation (P<0.001, -130%) than (R)-(--)- and racemic methadone. The immune suppression caused by methadone is not purely a classical opioid response but involves nonclassical opioid receptors located at the central level, which have yet to be characterised. Moreover, the dose at which immune suppression occurred could be achieved clinically.
Hutchinson
Mark R
MR
Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, University of Adelaide, Level 5, Medical School North, Frome Road, 5005, Adelaide, Australia. mark.hutchinson@adelaide.edu.au
Somogyi
Andrew A
AA
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013237:Stereoisomerism
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008691:Methadone