Revista latinoamericana de microbiologia
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Rev Latinoam Microbiol · Jan 2003
Chemotaxis of human and rat leukocytes by the delta-selective non-peptidic opioid SNC 80.
Opioids like morphine, represent a major source of relief for most chronic moderate to severe nonmalignant pain. However, opioid abuse may lead to infections such as hepatitis and AIDS because opioids have been associated with suppressing various parameters of immune function including antimicrobial resistance, antibody production, monocyte-mediated phagocytosis, and both neutrophil and monocyte chemotaxis. We have previously reported immunopotentiating properties of non-peptidic opioid receptor selective agonists and antagonists. ⋯ We observed that SNC 80 at concentrations of 10(-10), 10(-9), 10(-8), 10(-7), and 10(-6) M, significantly (p < 0.01) stimulated rat thymic (1.3, 1.55, 1.58, 1.75, and 1.8-fold increases respectively) and human leukocyte (1.13, 1.37, 1.43, 1.7, 1.83 fold-increases respectively) chemotaxis (demonstrated by checkerboard assays), compared with untreated control. The effects of SNC 80 on chemotaxis of rat and human leukocytes were antagonized by naloxone, indicating that the modulation of chemotaxis by SNC 80 is via a classic opioid receptor. The development and use of non-peptidic opioids like SNC 80 could have an immediate impact not only as potent analgesics, but in immunoregulation.