Related Experiment Videos
Mouse strain differences in immunosuppression by opioids in vitro
T K Eisenstein1, J J Meissler, T J Rogers
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Opioids significantly impact immune cell antibody production, with effects varying greatly by mouse strain. This highlights mouse strain as a critical factor in understanding opioid immunomodulation via opioid receptors.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Opioids are known to interact with the immune system.
- Previous research suggests opioids can directly affect immune cell function.
- The influence of genetic background on these interactions is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro immunomodulatory effects of morphine and U50,488H on antibody production.
- To compare these effects across four different mouse strains: C3HeB/FeJ, C57BL/6J, C57BL/6ByJ, and B6C3F1/J.
- To determine if mouse strain influences opioid-mediated suppression of immune responses.
Main Methods:
- An in vitro Mishell-Dutton culture system was employed using splenocytes from SRBC-immunized mice.
- Spleen cells were exposed to varying concentrations of morphine or U50,488H, with or without specific antagonists (naloxone, norbinaltorphimine).
- Immune responsiveness was quantified by measuring plaque-forming cells (PFC) per culture.
Main Results:
- Significant strain-dependent differences in opioid effects were observed.
- C3HeB/FeJ splenocytes showed approximately 50% suppression of PFC by both morphine and U50,488H.
- C57BL/6J splenocytes were resistant to both opioids, while B6C3F1/J cells were suppressed by U50,488H but not morphine. C57BL/6ByJ cells yielded inconsistent results.
Conclusions:
- Opioids directly modulate immune cell function through classical opioid receptors.
- Mouse strain is a critical variable influencing the immunomodulatory effects of opioids.
- These findings underscore the importance of considering genetic background in opioid-related immunomodulation research.