The opioid antagonist naloxone induces a shift from type 2 to type 1 cytokine pattern in normal and skin‐grafted mice
P Sacerdote, L Gaspani… - Annals of the New York …, 2000 - Wiley Online Library
P Sacerdote, L Gaspani, AE Panerai
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2000•Wiley Online LibraryOpioid peptides affect different immune functions. We present evidence that these effects
could be mediated by the modulation of TH1/TH2 cytokine production. The acute and
chronic treatment with the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone decreased the production of
IL‐4 by splenocytes of C57BL/6 and BALB/CJ mice, that present a Th1/Th2 dominance,
respectively, immunized with the protein antigen KLH. In contrast, IL‐2 and IFN‐γ levels
were increased after naloxone treatment. These results indicate that naloxone increases …
could be mediated by the modulation of TH1/TH2 cytokine production. The acute and
chronic treatment with the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone decreased the production of
IL‐4 by splenocytes of C57BL/6 and BALB/CJ mice, that present a Th1/Th2 dominance,
respectively, immunized with the protein antigen KLH. In contrast, IL‐2 and IFN‐γ levels
were increased after naloxone treatment. These results indicate that naloxone increases …
Abstract: Opioid peptides affect different immune functions. We present evidence that these effects could be mediated by the modulation of TH1/TH2 cytokine production. The acute and chronic treatment with the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone decreased the production of IL‐4 by splenocytes of C57BL/6 and BALB/CJ mice, that present a Th1/ Th2 dominance, respectively, immunized with the protein antigen KLH. In contrast, IL‐2 and IFN‐γ levels were increased after naloxone treatment. These results indicate that naloxone increases Th1 and decreases Th2 cytokine production. Moreover in C57BL/6 mice, naloxone treatment was able to accelerate skin‐graft rejection, a Th1‐mediated phenomenon, by increasing Th1 cytokine production. The effect of naloxone could be ascribed to the removal of the regulatory effects exerted by endogenous opioid peptides, which could activate Th2 and suppress Th1 cytokines.
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