TY - JOUR
T1 - In vitro effects of Naloxone on T-lymphocyte-dependent antibacterial activity in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients and in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients
AU - Amati, Luigi
AU - Caradonna, Luigi
AU - Magrone, Thea
AU - Manghisi, Claudia
AU - Leandro, Gioacchino
AU - Caccavo, Domenico
AU - Covelli, Vito
AU - Sciorsci, Raffaele Luigi
AU - Minoia, Paolo
AU - Jirillo, Emilio
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Naloxone acts as an opioid antagonist, displacing opioid drugs from cellular receptors. Among opioid substances, β-endorphins are able to bind to several cell receptors, even including those expressed by immune cells. In this respect, evidence has been provided that in the course of viral infections, as well as in patients with ulcerative colitis high levels of β-endorphins are detectable. Here, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 21 HCV infected patients and 14 patients with IBD, respectively, were incubated with Naloxone and Naloxone + Ca2+ in order to evaluate a putative modulation of PBL-mediated antibacterial activity. In fact, previous studies have demonstrated a reduction of this T-cell activity in HCV and IBD patients. In general terms, the above treatment led to a recovery of the depressed antibacterial activity. In some cases, increase in T lymphocyte function was obtained with Naloxone alone, while in other cases the combination Naloxone + Ca2+ gave rise to a restorative effect. Of note, in some instances, lymphocytes were unresponsive to pharmacological modulation. The overall results suggest that β-endorphins may down modulate T-cell antibacterial response in HCV and in IBD patients by saturating peripheral receptors on immune cells. Therefore, it is likely that Naloxone and/or Naloxone + Ca2+ may displace opioid drugs, thus antagonizing their effects.
AB - Naloxone acts as an opioid antagonist, displacing opioid drugs from cellular receptors. Among opioid substances, β-endorphins are able to bind to several cell receptors, even including those expressed by immune cells. In this respect, evidence has been provided that in the course of viral infections, as well as in patients with ulcerative colitis high levels of β-endorphins are detectable. Here, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 21 HCV infected patients and 14 patients with IBD, respectively, were incubated with Naloxone and Naloxone + Ca2+ in order to evaluate a putative modulation of PBL-mediated antibacterial activity. In fact, previous studies have demonstrated a reduction of this T-cell activity in HCV and IBD patients. In general terms, the above treatment led to a recovery of the depressed antibacterial activity. In some cases, increase in T lymphocyte function was obtained with Naloxone alone, while in other cases the combination Naloxone + Ca2+ gave rise to a restorative effect. Of note, in some instances, lymphocytes were unresponsive to pharmacological modulation. The overall results suggest that β-endorphins may down modulate T-cell antibacterial response in HCV and in IBD patients by saturating peripheral receptors on immune cells. Therefore, it is likely that Naloxone and/or Naloxone + Ca2+ may displace opioid drugs, thus antagonizing their effects.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035066182&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035066182&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1081/IPH-100102562
DO - 10.1081/IPH-100102562
M3 - Article
C2 - 11322642
AN - SCOPUS:0035066182
VL - 23
SP - 1
EP - 11
JO - Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology
JF - Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology
SN - 0892-3973
IS - 1
ER -