title: μ opioid receptor agonist-selective regulation of interleukin-4 in T lymphocytes.
abstract: Opioids are irreplaceable for the treatment of severe pain. However, opioid-induced immunomodulation affects therapies. Here we report that treatment of human T lymphocytes with the opioids fentanyl, methadone, loperamide and beta-endorphin resulted in a strong induction of the cytokine interleukin-4. In contrast, morphine and buprenorphine induced markedly and significantly lower levels of interleukin-4 mRNA and protein. These findings suggest agonist-biased μ opioid receptor signaling in T cells. In the future, better knowledge about agonist-specific immunomodulatory effects of opioids offers the possibility to select drugs for a therapy with more favorable and/or less detrimental side effects in immune cells.
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Magdeburg, 44 Leipzigerstrasse, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Börner
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Lanciotti
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Koch
authors: Volker
authors: V
authors: Höllt
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Kraus
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008297:Male; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000819:agonists* / Q000502:physiology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; C508598:IL4 protein, human; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D015847:Interleukin-4
keywords: Biased signaling; Immunomodulation; Interleukin-4; Opioid; T cell; μ-Opioid receptor