mu opioid receptor agonist-selective regulation of interleukin-4 in T lymphocytes.
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Borner C, Lanciotti S, Koch T, Hollt V, Kraus J
mu opioid receptor agonist-selective regulation of interleukin-4 in T lymphocytes.
J Neuroimmunol. 2013 Oct 15;263(1-2):35-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2013.07.012. Epub 2013 Jul 25.
- PubMed ID
- 23965172 [ View in PubMed]
- 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 mu 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.