Opioids and the immune system

The immune response is partly regulated by the nervous system, that involves endogenous opioids, stimulating or depressing immune responses. Opioids modulate immune response by indirect and direct mechanisms. Indirect modulation occurs when the activation of opioid receptors within the nervous syste...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista medíca de Chile 1999-03, Vol.127 (3), p.341-348
Main Authors: Núñez, G, Urzúa, J
Format: Article
Language:Spanish
Subjects:
B-Lymphocytes - physiology
Humans
Immune System - physiology
Immune Tolerance
Killer Cells, Natural - physiology
Narcotics - immunology
Neuroimmunomodulation - physiology
T-Lymphocytes - physiology
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Summary:The immune response is partly regulated by the nervous system, that involves endogenous opioids, stimulating or depressing immune responses. Opioids modulate immune response by indirect and direct mechanisms. Indirect modulation occurs when the activation of opioid receptors within the nervous system modifies the activity of neuroendocrine axes or neurotransmission pathways. Direct modulation results from the effects of opioids on immune system cells. This requires the expression of membrane opioid receptors in these cells. Immunomodulating effects of morphine would be a result of the integration of indirect and direct effects. In animal models, morphine transiently depresses cellular and humoral immunity. In humans, morphine has similar effects; however, the real impact of morphine administration on the immune response in clinical situations in not yet known.
ISSN:0034-9887