title: Immunomodulatory effects of endogenous and synthetic peptides activating opioid receptors.
abstract: The main role of endogenous opioid peptides is the modulation of pain. Opioid peptides exert their analgesic activity by binding to the opioid receptors distributed widely in the central nervous system (CNS). However, opioid receptors are also found on tissues and organs outside the CNS, including the cells of the immune system, indicating that opioids are capable of exerting additional effects in periphery. Morphine, which is a gold standard in the treatment of chronic pain, is well-known for its immunosuppressive effects. Much less is known about the immunomodulatory effects exerted by endogenous (enkephalins, endorphins, dynorphins and endomorphins) and synthetic peptides activating opioid receptors. In this review we tried to summarize opioid peptide-mediated modulation of immune cell functions which can be stimulatory as well as inhibitory.
authors.forename: Dorota K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Pomorska
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gach
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, MedicalUniversity of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland. anna.janecka@umed.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janecka
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D060326:Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic / Q000639:trends; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000819:agonists / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D004745:Enkephalins; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018847:Opioid Peptides; D011957:Receptors, Opioid