Methamphetamine Administration Produces Immunomodulation in Mice

• Published in: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A Part A, 2005-12, Vol.68 (23-24), p.2133-2145
• Main Authors: In, Sang-Whan, Son, Eun-Wha, Rhee, Dong-Kwon, Pyo, Suhkneung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibody-Producing Cells - drug effects; Antibody-Producing Cells - immunology; Bone Marrow Cells - drug effects; Bone Marrow Cells - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cell Line, Tumor; Colony-Forming Units Assay; Erythrocytes - immunology; Granulocytes; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Interleukin-2 - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - drug effects; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Macrophages; Male; Methamphetamine - toxicity; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Sheep; Spleen - cytology; Spleen - drug effects; Spleen - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - drug effects; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; Thymus Gland - cytology; Thymus Gland - drug effects; Thymus Gland - immunology
• ISSN: 1528-7394; 1087-2620
• DOI: 10.1080/15287390500177156

The abuse of methamphetamine (MA) is an increasingly growing problem globally and produces serious side effects. In the present study, the immunomodulating effects of MA were examined on the immune system after MA (5 mg/kg body weight) was administered daily orally for 14 d. The immune system was evaluated by the antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC; plaque assay and serum immunoglobulin [Ig] G), natural killer (NK) activity, lymphocyte subpopulations in the spleen and thymus, and concanavalin A (Con A)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation using splenocytes. Body weight, spleen weight, and thymus weight generally decreased in MA-treated mice. MA treatment induced an increase in the percentage of CD4 + cells with simultaneous decrease in the percentages of CD8 + and double-positive CD4 + CD8 + in thymus. MA inhibited the IgM plaque-forming cell number, and lowered the level of IgG, the proliferation of mitogen-stimulated B and T cells, and the growth of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM). Exposure to MA also decreased interleukin-2 production by splenocytes. In contrast, splenic NK activity in exposed mice was significantly enhanced. Taken together, data indicate that the immune system was suppressed by oral MA exposure.