title: Effects of Different Concentrations of Opium on the Secretion of Interleukin-6, Interferon-γ and Transforming Growth Factor Beta Cytokines from Jurkat Cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risk of infectious, autoimmune and immunodeficiency diseases and cancers rise in opioid addicts due to changes in innate and acquired immune responses. Three types of opioid receptors (К-δ-μ) are expressed on the surface of lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes. The present study was designed to examine the effects of different concentrations of opium on the secretion of some cytokines produced by lymphocyte cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Jurkat cells were exposed to different concentrations of opium for periods of 6, 24 and 72 h in cell culture medium. The amount of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor-b (TGF-β) were then measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that opium increases the secretion of IL-6 in different concentration of opium in 6 h. The amount of IFN-γ decreased in 6 h and increased in 24 h significantly compared with control. On the other hand, opium had an inhibitory effect on the TGF-β secretion in 6, 24 and 72 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the study showed that opium stimulates pro-inflammatory and suppressed anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion in Jurkat cells. This may account for the negative effect of opium on the immune system leading to chronic inflammation and a base for many disorders in opium addicts.
authors: Professor, Physiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology AND Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Gholamreza
authors: G
authors: Asadikaram
authors: PhD Student, Molecular Biology Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors: Somayeh
authors: S
authors: Igder
authors: PhD Student, Molecular Biology Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Jamali
authors: Associate Professor, Physiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology AND Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Nader
authors: N
authors: Shahrokhi
authors: Professor, Physiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Hamid
authors: H
authors: Najafipour
authors: Research Center for Modeling in Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Mostafa
authors: M
authors: Shokoohi
authors: Professor, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors: Abdollah
authors: A
authors: Jafarzadeh
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Kazemi-Arababadi
keywords: Interferon-γ; Interleukin-6; Jurkat cell; Opium; Transforming growth factor beta