BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Opioid use and abuse has been linked to significant immunosuppression, which has been attributed, in part, to drug-induced depletion of lymphocytes. We sought to define the mechanisms by which lymphocyte populations are depleted and recover following morphine treatment in mice. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Mice were implanted with morphine pellets and B- and T-cell subsets in the bone marrow, thymus, spleen and lymph nodes were analysed at various time points. We also examined the effects of morphine on T-cell development using an ex vivo assay. KEY RESULTS: The lymphocyte populations most susceptible to morphine-induced depletion were the precursor cells undergoing selection. As the lymphocytes recovered, more lymphocyte precursors proliferated than in control mice. In addition, peripheral T-cells displayed evidence that they had undergone homeostatic proliferation during the recovery phase of the experiments. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The recovery of lymphocytes following morphine-induced depletion occurred in the presence of morphine and via increased proliferation of lymphoid precursors and homeostatic proliferation of T-cells.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Opioid use and abuse has been linked to significant immunosuppression, which has been attributed, in part, to drug-induced depletion of lymphocytes. We sought to define the mechanisms by which lymphocyte populations are depleted and recover following morphine treatment in mice. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Mice were implanted with morphine pellets and B- and T-cell subsets in the bone marrow, thymus, spleen and lymph nodes were analysed at various time points. We also examined the effects of morphine on T-cell development using an ex vivo assay. KEY RESULTS: The lymphocyte populations most susceptible to morphine-induced depletion were the precursor cells undergoing selection. As the lymphocytes recovered, more lymphocyte precursors proliferated than in control mice. In addition, peripheral T-cells displayed evidence that they had undergone homeostatic proliferation during the recovery phase of the experiments. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The recovery of lymphocytes following morphine-induced depletion occurred in the presence of morphine and via increased proliferation of lymphoid precursors and homeostatic proliferation of T-cells.
Authors: Imre Szabo; Michele A Wetzel; Ning Zhang; Amber D Steele; David E Kaminsky; Chongguang Chen; Lee-Yuan Liu-Chen; Filip Bednar; Earl E Henderson; O M Zack Howard; Joost J Oppenheim; Thomas J Rogers Journal: J Leukoc Biol Date: 2003-09-12 Impact factor: 4.962
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Authors: Jermaine D Jones; Maria A Sullivan; Jeanne M Manubay; Shanthi Mogali; Verena E Metz; Roberto Ciccocioppo; Sandra D Comer Journal: Physiol Behav Date: 2015-10-09