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Ethanol enhances immunosuppression induced by cocaine
S V Pirozhkov1, R R Watson, G J Chen
1Research Institute for Medico-Biological Problems of Addictions, Moscow, Russia.
Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.)
|November 1, 1992
Summary
Cocaine and its metabolite cocaethylene suppress immune cell function. Simultaneous use of cocaine and alcohol may increase cocaine
Area of Science:
- Immunotoxicology
- Pharmacology
- Neuroimmunology
Background:
- Cocaine use is often combined with alcohol, leading to the formation of cocaethylene.
- Cocaine's effects on the immune system are varied, with some studies showing inhibition and others activation.
- The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis is implicated in mediating cocaine's immune effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immunotoxic effects of cocaine, alcohol, and cocaethylene on immune cells.
- To compare the effects of cocaine and cocaethylene on cytokine production by splenocytes.
- To determine if cocaethylene exacerbates cocaine's immunotoxicity.
Main Methods:
- C57BL mice were treated with cocaine or cocaethylene and fed an ethanol-containing or control diet for 3 weeks.
- Spleen weight and splenocyte counts were measured.
- Mitogen-stimulated cytokine production (gamma-interferon, tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-2) by splenocytes was assessed.
Main Results:
- Cocaine and cocaethylene significantly reduced spleen weight and splenocyte numbers.
- Both cocaine and cocaethylene suppressed mitogen-stimulated cytokine production.
- Cocaethylene demonstrated more severe suppression of cytokine production compared to cocaine.
Conclusions:
- Cocaine and cocaethylene possess immunotoxic properties.
- The co-consumption of cocaine and alcohol, leading to cocaethylene formation, may enhance cocaine's immunotoxicity.
- These findings highlight the potential dangers of combined cocaine and alcohol use on the immune system.