μ opioid receptor agonist-selective regulation of interleukin-4 in T lymphocytes

Opioids and Cancer: Current Understanding and Clinical Considerations

Pain is one of the most common symptoms in patients with cancer. Pain not only negatively affects the quality of life of patients with cancer, but it has also been associated with reduced survival. Pain management is therefore a critical component of cancer care. Prescription opioids remain the first-line approach for the management of moderate-to-severe pain associated with cancer. However, there has been increasing interest in understanding whether these analgesics could impact cancer progression. Furthermore, epidemiological data link a possible association between prescription opioid usage and cancer development. Until more robust evidence is available, patients with cancer with moderate-to-severe pain may receive opioids to decrease suffering. However, future studies should be conducted to evaluate the role of opioids and opioid receptors in specific cancers.

Methadone Requires the Co-Activation of μ-Opioid and Toll-Like-4 Receptors to Produce Extracellular DNA Traps in Bone-Marrow-Derived Mast Cells

Methadone is an effective and long-lasting analgesic drug that is also used in medication-assisted treatment for people with opioid use disorders. Although there is evidence that methadone activates μ-opioid and Toll-like-4 receptors (TLR-4s), its effects on distinct immune cells, including mast cells (MCs), are not well characterized. MCs express μ-opioid and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and constitute an important cell lineage involved in allergy and effective innate immunity responses. In the present study, murine bone-marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) were treated with methadone to evaluate cell viability by flow cytometry, cell morphology with immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) increase. We found that exposure of BMMCs to 0.5 mM or 1 mM methadone rapidly induced cell death by forming extracellular DNA traps (ETosis). Methadone-induced cell death depended on ROS formation and [Ca2+]i. Using pharmacological approaches and TLR4-defective BMMC cultures, we found that µ-opioid receptors were necessary for both methadone-induced ROS production and intracellular calcium increase. Remarkably, TLR4 receptors were also involved in methadone-induced ROS production as it did not occur in BMMCs obtained from TLR4-deficient mice. Finally, confocal microscopy images showed a significant co-localization of μ-opioid and TLR4 receptors that increased after methadone treatment. Our results suggest that methadone produces MCETosis by a mechanism requiring a novel crosstalk pathway between μ-opioid and TLR4 receptors.

The effects of ultrasound-guided QLB and TAPB combined with opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) on clinical efficacy of the patients undergoing abdominal surgery

Background

Although opioids provide effective analgesia for abdominal surgery, they also present serious unwanted side effects. Ultrasound-guild quadratus lumborum block (QLB) and transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) have been proven to offer long-lasting and efficient analgesia during abdominal surgery. However, the clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided QLB and TAPB combined with opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) in abdominal surgery remains unclear.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the impact of ultrasound-guided QLB and TAPB combined with opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) on the clinical efficacy of abdominal surgery.

Methods

A total of 122 patients scheduled for abdominal surgery at People's Hospital of Wanning between March 2021 and April 2022 were enrolled in this study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group (QLB/TAPB + OFA, 62 patients) and the control group (opioid anesthesia, 60 patients). The clinical efficacy of the QLB/TAPB combined with OFA technique was evaluated by analyzing patients' vital signs, postoperative consciousness recovery time, numeric rating scale (NRS) score, and immune function in both groups.

Results

We observed that systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in experimental group were significantly higher than those in control group after induction (p < 0.05). Heart rate (HR) in experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group at intraoperative 1h (p < 0.05). Additionally, bispectral index (BIS), state entropy (SE), and response entropy (RE) levels in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, extubation and awakening time were significantly shorter in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The NRS scores in the experimental group were markedly lower than those in the control group. Moreover, IL-6 and CRP levels in the experimental group were obviously lower than in the control group after postoperative 1d (p < 0.05). Interestingly, IL-6 (p < 0.001), CRP (p < 0.001), and PCT (p = 0.037) levels in female patients of the experimental group were all significantly lower than those in the control group after postoperative 1d.

Conclusions

Ultrasound-guided QLB and TAPB combined with OFA technique can reduce pain intensity and enhance the patients' immune function in abdominal surgery.

The Immunomodulatory Effect of Various Anaesthetic Practices in Patients Undergoing Gastric or Colon Cancer Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

BACKGROUND

Gastric and colorectal carcinomas are associated with increased mortality and an increasing incidence worldwide, while surgical resection remains the primary approach for managing these conditions. Emerging evidence suggests that the immunosuppression induced by the chosen anaesthesia approach, during the perioperative period, can have a significant impact on the immune system and consequently the prognosis of these patients.

AIM

This systematic review aims to comprehensively summarize the existing literature on the effects of different anaesthesia techniques on immune system responses, focusing on cellular immunity in patients undergoing the surgical removal of gastric or colorectal carcinomas. There is no meta-analysis investigating anaesthesia's impact on immune responses in gastric and colorectal cancer surgery. Anaesthesia is a key perioperative factor, yet its significance in this area has not been thoroughly investigated. The clinical question of how the anaesthetic technique choice affects the immune system and prognosis remains unresolved.

METHODS

Major electronic databases were searched up to February 2023 to May 2023 for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The study protocol has been registered with Prospero (CRD42023441383).

RESULTS

Six RCTs met the selection criteria. Among these, three RCTs investigated the effects of volatile-based anaesthesia versus total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA), while the other three RCTs compared general anaesthesia alone to the combination of general anaesthesia with epidural anaesthesia. According to our analysis, there were no significant differences between TIVA and volatile-based anaesthesia, in terms of primary and secondary endpoints. The combination of general anaesthesia with epidural analgesia had a positive impact on NK cell counts (SMD 0.61, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.94, I2 0.0% at 24 and 72 h after the operation), as well as on CD4+ cells (SMD 0.59, CI 95% 0.26 to 0.93, I2 0.0%). However, the CD3+ cell count, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), IL-6 and TNF-α levels remained unaffected.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of epidural analgesia and general anaesthesia can potentially improve, postoperatively, the NK cell count and CD4+ cell levels in gastric or colon surgery patients. However, the specific impact of TIVA or volatile-based anaesthesia remains uncertain. To gain a better understanding of the immunomodulatory effects of anaesthesia, in this particular group of cancer patients, further well-designed trials are required.

Effect of esketamine on inflammatory factors in opioid-free anesthesia based on quadratus lumborum block: A randomized trial

BACKGROUND

As strong analgesics, opioids provide the analgesic component of general anesthesia, but they have bidirectional effects on the immune system, promoting the production of pro-inflammatory factors. The idea of opioid-free anesthesia is to replace the analgesic effect of opioids in the treatment of acute pain with comparably effective drugs that do not affect the immune system and thereby decrease the production of inflammatory factors. Therefore, this study aims to observe the effect of opioid-free esketamine anesthesia based on quadratus lumborum block on inflammatory factors in patients undergoing lower abdominal or pelvic surgery.

METHODS

A total of 122 patients who underwent lower abdominal or pelvic surgery in our hospital from March 2021 to June 2022 were selected and divided into the esketamine (E) group (n = 62) and control (C) group (n = 60) according to the random number table method. According to the surgical field, the 2 groups underwent unilateral/bilateral quadratus lumborum block in the supine position under ultrasound guidance. In addition, both groups received a target controlled infusion of propofol 3 to 3.5 μg/mL and intravenous rocuronium 0.8 mg/kg. Group E was given opioid-free anesthesia, group C was given opioid-based anesthesia. A 3 to 5 laryngeal mask was inserted according to body weight, and rocuronium 0.5 mg/kg was added intermittently. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), numeric rating scales, dosage of propofol, dexmedetomidine and rocuronium, as well as the numeric rating scales score and analgesic complications were monitored in the 2 groups.

RESULTS

There was no significant differences in general outcomes between the 2 groups (P > .05). The blood pressure in group E was higher than in group C at T1 (P < .05). The levels of IL-6, TNF-α, CRP and IL-8 in group E were significantly lower than in group C at T1, T2, T3, and T4 (P < .05). The levels of IL-6, TNF-α, procalcitonin, CRP and IL-8 in the 2 groups at T1, T2, T3, and T4 were significantly higher than at T0 (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Opioid-free esketamine anesthesia based on quadratus lumborum block achieved perfect postoperative analgesia with little effect on inflammatory factors in patients undergoing lower abdominal or pelvic surgery.

Beyond the Syndemic of Opioid Use Disorders and HIV: The Impact of Opioids on Viral Reservoirs

People with HIV are more likely to have opioid use disorder and to be prescribed opioids for chronic pain than the general population; however, the effects of opioids on the immune system and HIV persistence have not been fully elucidated. Opioids may affect HIV reservoirs during their establishment, maintenance, and reactivation by enhancing HIV infectivity and replication due to upregulation of co-receptors and impairment of innate antiviral responses. Opioids may also modulate immune cell functioning and microbial translocation and can reverse viral latency. In this review, we summarize the current findings for and against the modulating effects of opioids on HIV cellular and anatomical reservoirs, highlighting the current limitations that affect in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies in the field. We propose further research targets and potential strategies to approach this topic.

Opioid Use, Gut Dysbiosis, Inflammation, and the Nervous System

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is defined as the chronic use or misuse of prescribed or illicitly obtained opioids and is characterized by clinically significant impairment. The etiology of OUD is multifactorial as it is influenced by genetics, environmental factors, stress response and behavior. Given the profound role of the gut microbiome in health and disease states, in recent years there has been a growing interest to explore interactions between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system as a causal link and potential therapeutic source for OUD. This review describes the role of the gut microbiome and opioid-induced immunopathological disturbances at the gut epithelial surface, which collectively contribute to OUD and perpetuate the vicious cycle of addiction and relapse.

Immunomodulatory effects of pharmaceutical opioids and antipyretic analgesics: Mechanisms and relevance to infection

Understanding how pharmaceutical opioids and antipyretic analgesics interact with the immune system potentially has major clinical implications for management of patients with infectious diseases and surgical and critical care patients. An electronic search was carried out on MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CENTRAL and the Cochrane library to identify reports describing the immunomodulatory effects of opioid analgesics and antipyretic analgesics, and their effects in infectious diseases. In adaptive immunity, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have divergent effects: augmenting cell-mediated immunity but inhibiting humoral immunity. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have demonstrated a beneficial role in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and histoplasmosis in animals, and may be plausible adjuvants to antimicrobial agents in these diseases. There is a need to evaluate these findings rigorously in human clinical trials. There is preliminary evidence demonstrating antiviral effects of indomethacin in SARS CoV-2 in vitro; however, uncertainty regarding its clinical benefit in humans needs to be resolved in large clinical trials. Certain opioid analgesics are associated with immunosuppressive effects, with a developing understanding that fentanyl, morphine, methadone and buprenorphine suppress innate immunity, whilst having diverse effects on adaptive immunity. Morphine suppresses key cells of the innate immunity and is associated with greater risk of infection in the postsurgical setting. Efforts are needed to achieve adequate analgesia whilst avoiding suppression of the innate immunity in the immediate postoperative period caused by certain opioids, particularly in cancer surgery.

The A118G single-nucleotide polymorphism in OPRM1 is a risk factor for asthma severity

BACKGROUND

Although population studies have implicated emotional burden in asthma severity, the underlying genetic risk factors are not completely understood. We aimed to evaluate the genetic influence of a functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the stress-related μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1; A118G SNP, rs1799971) on asthma severity.

METHODS

We initially assessed disease severity in asthmatic outpatients carrying A118G. Using an ovalbumin-induced experimental asthma rodent model harboring the functionally equivalent SNP, we investigated the mechanism by which this SNP influences the allergic immune response.

RESULTS

Among 292 outpatients, 168 underwent airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine testing. Compared with patients carrying the AA and AG genotypes, those carrying the GG genotype exhibited enhanced AHR. The stress levels were presumed to be moderate among patients and were comparable among genotypes. Compared with Oprm1 AA mice, GG mice demonstrated aggravated asthma-related features and increased pulmonary interleukin-4⁺CD4⁺ effector and effector memory T cells under everyday life stress conditions. Intraperitoneal naloxone methiodide injection reduced effector CD4⁺ T cell elevation associated with increased eosinophil numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of GG mice to the levels in AA mice, suggesting that elevated Th2 cell generation in the bronchial lymph node (BLN) of GG mice induces enhanced eosinophilic inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

Without forced stress exposure, patients with asthma carrying the OPRM1 GG genotype exhibit enhanced AHR, attributable to enhanced Th2 cell differentiation in the regional lymph node. Further research is necessary to elucidate the role of the OPRM1 A118G genotype in the Th2 cell differentiation pathway in the BLN.

Effects of Dezocine and Sufentanil on Th1/Th2 Balance in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Surgery

Background

It is very important for breast cancer patients undergoing surgery to choose an opioid that has little effect on the immune system. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of dezocine or sufentanil on postoperative pain and Th1/Th2 balance in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery.

Methods

Data from 92 breast cancer patients from January 2019 to July 2020 at Foshan Second People’s Hospital (Guangdong, China) were analyzed. Sufentanil (SF) was used in group SF (n = 44) and dezocine (DE) in group DE (n = 48). The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores were assessed, and the percentages of Th1 cells and Th2 cells in peripheral blood were detected before anesthesia and at 2, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery.

Results

There was no significant difference in the VAS scores between the two groups at 2, 24, and 48 hours after surgery (P > 0.05). The VAS scores at 12 hours after surgery in group DE were significantly lower than those in group SF with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The percentage of Th1 cells in group DE at 2, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery was significantly lower than that in group SF (P < 0.05). The percentage of Th2 cells in group DE at 2, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery was significantly lower than that in group SF (P < 0.05). The Th1/Th2 ratio at 2, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery was significantly higher in group DE than that in group SF (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Dezocine for anesthesia induction and postoperative analgesia can maintain the balance of Th1/Th2 more stable than, with the same analgesia efficacy as, sufentanil during the early postoperative period in breast cancer patients undergoing surgery.

Multiple Sclerosis and the Endogenous Opioid System

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation, neuronal degeneration and demyelinating lesions within the central nervous system. The mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis and progression of MS are not fully known and current therapies have limited efficacy. Preclinical investigations using the murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS, as well as clinical observations in patients with MS, provide converging lines of evidence implicating the endogenous opioid system in the pathogenesis of this disease. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that endogenous opioid peptides, binding μ- (MOR), κ- (KOR) and δ-opioid receptors (DOR), function as immunomodulatory molecules within both the immune and nervous systems. The endogenous opioid system is also well known to play a role in the development of chronic pain and negative affect, both of which are common comorbidities in MS. As such, dysregulation of the opioid system may be a mechanism that contributes to the pathogenesis of MS and associated symptoms. Here, we review the evidence for a connection between the endogenous opioid system and MS. We further explore the mechanisms by which opioidergic signaling might contribute to the pathophysiology and symptomatology of MS.

Buprenorphine Increases HIV-1 Infection In Vitro but Does Not Reactivate HIV-1 from Latency

BACKGROUND

medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine is now widely prescribed to treat addiction to heroin and other illicit opioids. There is some evidence that illicit opioids enhance HIV-1 replication and accelerate AIDS pathogenesis, but the effect of buprenorphine is unknown.

METHODS

we obtained peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers and cultured them in the presence of morphine, buprenorphine, or methadone. We infected the cells with a replication-competent CCR5-tropic HIV-1 reporter virus encoding a secreted nanoluciferase gene, and measured infection by luciferase activity in the supernatants over time. We also surveyed opioid receptor expression in PBMC, genital epithelial cells and other leukocytes by qPCR and western blotting. Reactivation from latency was assessed in J-Lat 11.1 and U1 cell lines.

RESULTS

we did not detect expression of classical opioid receptors in leukocytes, but did find nociception/orphanin FQ receptor (NOP) expression in blood and vaginal lymphocytes as well as genital epithelial cells. In PBMCs, we found that at physiological doses, morphine, and methadone had a variable or no effect on HIV infection, but buprenorphine treatment significantly increased HIV-1 infectivity (median: 8.797-fold increase with 20 nM buprenorphine, eight experiments, range: 3.570-691.9, p = 0.0078). Using latently infected cell lines, we did not detect reactivation of latent HIV following treatment with any of the opioid drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

our results suggest that buprenorphine, in contrast to morphine or methadone, increases the in vitro susceptibility of leukocytes to HIV-1 infection but has no effect on in vitro HIV reactivation. These findings contribute to our understanding how opioids, including those used for MAT, affect HIV infection and reactivation, and can help to inform the choice of MAT for people living with HIV or who are at risk of HIV infection.

Heroin-assisted treatment of heroin-addicted patients normalizes regulatory T cells but does not restore CD4+ T cell proliferation

Heroin dependence may result in suppression of adaptive immune responses. Previously, we demonstrated an increase in relative numbers of inhibitory CD4⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and impaired proliferative activity of CD4⁺ T cells from heroin-addicted patients in contrast to patients in opioid maintenance therapy and healthy controls. However, it remains elusive whether heroin has a direct impact on the CD4⁺ T cell compartment or whether observed effects result from stressful living conditions. Here, we analyzed the frequencies of Tregs and the proliferation as well as the cytokine production of stimulated CD4⁺ T cells from heroin-addicted patients with use of illicit heroin, patients in heroin-assisted treatment (HAT), and patients in methadone maintenance therapy (MMT). Relative numbers of CD4⁺ Tregs were significantly enhanced in patients with illicit heroin abuse compared with patients in HAT or MMT. Notably, CD4⁺ T cells from patients in HAT and from persons using illicit heroin showed significant reduced proliferation and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-6 upon stimulation in vitro. From these results, we conclude that structured programs such as HAT and MMT dampen elevated frequencies of Tregs in heroin-addicted patients, whereas chronic heroin administration irrespective of using illicit heroin or receiving HAT has a direct impact on the proliferative activity and cytokine production of CD4⁺ T cells.

The role of opioids in cancer response to immunotherapy

Background

The response to immunotherapy can be impaired by several factors including external intervention such as drug interactions with immune system. We aimed to examine the immunomodulatory action of opioids, since immune cells express opioid receptors able to negatively influence their activities.

Methods

This observational, multicenter, retrospective study, recruited patients with different metastatic solid tumors, who have received immunotherapy between September 2014 and September 2019. Immunotherapy was administered according to the standard schedule approved for each primary tumor and line of treatment. The concomitant intake of antibiotics, antifungals, corticosteroids and opioids were evaluated in all included patients. The relationship between tumor response to immunotherapy and the oncological outcomes were evaluated. A multivariate Cox-proportional hazard model was used to identify independent prognostic factors for survival.

Results

One hundred ninety-three patients were recruited. Overall, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly shorter in those patients taking opioids than in those who didn’t (median PFS, 3 months vs. 19 months, HR 1.70, 95% CI 1.37–2.09, p < 0.0001; median OS, 4 months vs. 35 months, HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.26–2.02, p < 0.0001). In addition, PFS and OS were significantly impaired in those patients taking corticosteroids, antibiotics or antifungals, in those patients with an ECOG PS ≥ 1 and in patients with a high tumor burden. Using the multivariate analyses, opioids and ECOG PS were independent prognostic factors for PFS, whereas only ECOG PS resulted to be an independent prognostic factor for OS, with trend toward significance for opioids as well as tumor burden.

Discussion

Our study suggests that the concomitant administration of drugs as well as some clinical features could negatively predict the outcomes of cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. In particular, opioids use during immunotherapy is associated with early progression, potentially representing a predictive factor for PFS and negatively influencing OS as well.

Conclusions

A possible negative drug interaction able to impair the immune response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents has been highlighted. Our findings suggest the need to further explore the impact of opioids on immune system modulation and their role in restoring the response to immunotherapy treatment, thereby improving patients' outcomes.

Design and implementation of a prospective cohort study of persons living with and without HIV infection who are initiating medication treatment for opioid use disorder

Background

Opioid use disorder (OUD) negatively impacts the HIV continuum of care for persons living with HIV. Medication treatment for OUD (MOUD) may have differential biological effects in individuals with HIV and OUD. To address the question of modulation of immune responses by MOUDs, we describe state of the art systems biology approaches to carry out the first prospective, longitudinal study of persons with and without HIV infection with OUD initiating MOUD.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of persons with DSM-5 diagnosed OUD who are living with and without HIV infection and initiating treatment with methadone or buprenorphine is underway to assess biological effects of these medications on immunobiological outcomes.

Results

We describe the recruitment, laboratory, and statistical methods of this study as well as the protocol details. Of those screened for enrollment into the study, 468 (36%) were eligible and 135 were enrolled thus far. Retention through month 6 has been high at 80%.

Conclusions

This study will use state of the art systems biology approaches to carry out the first prospective, longitudinal studies of persons living with and without HIV with DSM-5 OUD initiating treatment with MOUD.

Expression of Opioid Receptors in Cells of the Immune System

The observation of the immunomodulatory effects of opioid drugs opened the discussion about possible mechanisms of action and led researchers to consider the presence of opioid receptors (OR) in cells of the immune system. To date, numerous studies analyzing the expression of OR subtypes in animal and human immune cells have been performed. Some of them confirmed the expression of OR at both the mRNA and protein level, while others did not detect the receptor mRNA either. Although this topic remains controversial, further studies are constantly being published. The most recent articles suggested that the expression level of OR in human peripheral blood lymphocytes could help to evaluate the success of methadone maintenance therapy in former opioid addicts, or could serve as a biomarker for chronic pain diagnosis. However, the applicability of these findings to clinical practice needs to be verified by further investigations.

An Investigation into Proteomic Constituents of Cerebrospinal Fluid in Patients with Chronic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain Medicated with Opioids- a Pilot Study

The pharmacodynamics of opioids for chronic peripheral neuropathic pain are complex and likely extend beyond classical opioid receptor theory. Preclinical evidence of opioid modulation of central immune signalling has not been identified in vivo in humans. Examining the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients medicated with opioids is required to identify potential pharmacodynamic mechanisms. We compared CSF samples of chronic peripheral neuropathic pain patients receiving opioids (n = 7) versus chronic peripheral neuropathic pain patients not taking opioids (control group, n = 13). Baseline pain scores with demographics were recorded. Proteome analysis was performed using mass spectrometry and secreted neuropeptides were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Based on Gene Ontology analysis, proteins involved in the positive regulation of nervous system development and myeloid leukocyte activation were increased in patients taking opioids versus the control group. The largest decrease in protein expression in patients taking opioids were related to neutrophil mediated immunity. In addition, notably higher expression levels of neural proteins (85%) and receptors (80%) were detected in the opioid group compared to the control group. This study suggests modulation of CNS homeostasis, possibly attributable to opioids, thus highlighting potential mechanisms for the pharmacodynamics of opioids. We also provide new insights into the immunomodulatory functions of opioids in vivo.

Which idea is better with regard to immune response? Opioid anesthesia or opioid free anesthesia

The stress of surgery is characterized by an inflammatory response with immune suppression resulting from many factors, including the type of surgery and the kind of anesthesia, linked with the drugs that are used and the underlying disease of the patient. The trauma of surgery triggers a cascade of reactions involving the immune response and nociception. As strong analgesics, opioids provide the analgesic component of general anesthesia with bi-directional effect on the immune system. Opioids influence almost all aspects of the immune response in regards to leukocytes, macrophages, mast cells, lymphocytes, and NK cells. The suppressive effect of opioids on the immune system is limiting their use, especially in patients with impaired immune response, so the possibility of using multimodal anesthesia without opioids, known as opioid-free anesthesia (OFA), is gaining more and more sympathizers. The idea of OFA is to eliminate opioid analgesia in the treatment of acute pain and to replace it with drugs from other groups that are assumed to have a comparable analgesic effect without affecting the immune system. Here, we present a review on the impact of anesthesia, with and without the use of opioids, on the immune response to surgical stress.

Opioid-Mediated HIV-1 Immunopathogenesis

Despite the ability of combination antiretroviral therapy to dramatically suppress viremia, the brain continues to be a reservoir of HIV-1 low-level replication. Adding further complexity to this is the comorbidity of drug abuse with HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders and neuroHIV. Among several abused drugs, the use of opiates is highly prevalent in HIV-1 infected individuals, both as an abused drug as well as for pain management. Opioids and their receptors have attained notable attention owing to their ability to modulate immune functions, in turn, impacting disease progression. Various cell culture, animal and human studies have implicated the role of opioids and their receptors in modulating viral replication and virus-mediated pathology both positively and negatively. Further, the combinatorial effects of HIV-1/HIV-1 proteins and morphine have demonstrated activation of inflammatory signaling in the host system. Herein, we summarized the current knowledge on the role of opioids on peripheral immunopathogenesis, viral immunopathogenesis, epigenetic profiles of the host and viral genome, neuropathogenesis of SIV/SHIV-infected non-human primates, blood-brain-barrier, HIV-1 viral latency, and viral rebound. Overall, this review provides recent insights into the role of opioids in HIV-1 immunopathogenesis. Graphical abstract.

Methadone Inhibits Viral Restriction Factors and Facilitates HIV Infection in Macrophages

Opioid abuse alters the functions of immune cells in both in vitro and in vivo systems, including macrophages. Here, we investigated the effects of methadone, a widely used opioid receptor agonist for treatment of opiate addiction, on the expression of intracellular viral restriction factors and HIV replication in primary human macrophages. We showed that methadone enhanced the HIV infectivity in primary human macrophages. Mechanistically, methadone treatment of macrophages reduced the expression of interferons (IFN-β and IFN-λ2) and the IFN-stimulated anti-HIV genes (APOBEC3F/G and MxB). In addition, methadone-treated macrophages showed lower levels of several anti-HIV microRNAs (miRNA-28, miR-125b, miR-150, and miR-155) compared to untreated cells. Exogenous IFN-β treatment restored the methadone-induced reduction in the expression of the above genes. These effects of methadone on HIV and the antiviral factors were antagonized by pretreatment of cells with naltrexone. These findings provide additional evidence to support further studies on the role of opiates, including methadone, in the immunopathogenesis of HIV disease.

The Opioid Epidemic: Impact on Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in HIV

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

People infected with HIV through injection drug use are more likely to experience progression to AIDS, death due to AIDS, and all-cause mortality even when controlling for access to care and antiretroviral therapy. While high-risk behavior and concurrent infections most certainly are contributors, chronic immune activation, downstream metabolic comorbidities may play an important role.

RECENT FINDINGS

Altered intestinal integrity plays a major role in HIV-related immune activation and microbial translocation markers are heightened in active heroin users. Additionally, greater injection frequency drives systemic inflammation and is associated with HIV viral rebound. Finally, important systemic inflammation markers have been linked with frailty and mortality in people who inject drugs with and without concurrent HIV infection. Heroin use may work synergistically with HIV infection to cause greater immune activation than either factor alone. Further research is needed to understand the impact on downstream metabolic comorbidities including cardiovascular disease. Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder with methadone or buprenorphine may ameliorate some of this risk; however, there is presently limited research in humans, including in non-HIV populations, describing changes in immune activation on these treatments which is of paramount importance for those with HIV infection.

Potential neuro-immune therapeutic targets in irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder characterized by recurring abdominal pain and disturbed bowel habits. The aetiology of IBS is unknown but there is evidence that genetic, environmental and immunological factors together contribute to the development of the disease. Current treatment of IBS includes lifestyle and dietary interventions, laxatives or antimotility drugs, probiotics, antispasmodics and antidepressant medication. The gut-brain axis comprises the central nervous system, the hypothalamic pituitary axis, the autonomic nervous system and the enteric nervous system. Within the intestinal mucosa there are close connections between immune cells and nerve fibres of the enteric nervous system, and signalling between, for example, mast cells and nerves has shown to be of great importance during GI disorders such as IBS. Communication between the gut and the brain is most importantly routed via the vagus nerve, where signals are transmitted by neuropeptides. It is evident that IBS is a disease of a gut-brain axis dysregulation, involving altered signalling between immune cells and neurotransmitters. In this review, we analyse the most novel and distinct neuro-immune interactions within the IBS mucosa in association with already existing and potential therapeutic targets.

The aetiology of social deficits within mental health disorders: The role of the immune system and endogenous opioids

The American National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) has put out a set of research goals that include a long-term plan to identify more reliable endogenous explanations for a wide variety of mental health disorders (Insel, 2013). In response to this, we have identified a major symptom that underlies multiple mental health disorders - social bonding dysfunction. We suggest that endogenous opioid abnormalities can lead to altered social bonding, which is a symptom of various mental health disorders, including depression, schizophrenia and ASD. This article first outlines how endogenous opioids play a role in social bonding. Then we show their association with the body's inflammation immune function, and review recent literature linking inflammation to mental health 'immunophenotypes'. We finish by explaining how these immunophenotypes may be caused by alterations in the endogenous opioid system. This is the first overview of the role of inflammation across multiple disorders where we provide a biochemical explanation for why immunophenotypes might exist across diagnoses. We propose a novel mechanism of how the immune system may be causing 'sickness-type' behaviours (fatigue, appetite change, social withdrawal and inhibited motivation) in those who have these immunophenotypes. We hope that this novel aetiology can be used as a basis for future research in mental health.

Do All Opioid Drugs Share the Same Immunomodulatory Properties? A Review From Animal and Human Studies

Suppression of the immune system has been constantly reported in the last years as a classical side effect of opioid drugs. Most of the studies on the immunological properties of opioids refer to morphine. Although morphine remains the "reference molecule," other semisynthetic and synthetic opioids are frequently used in the clinical practice. The primary objective of this review is to analyze the available literature on the immunomodulating properties of opioid drugs different from morphine in preclinical models and in the human. A search strategy was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane databases using the terms "immunosuppression," "immune system," "opioids," "Natural killer cells," "cytokines," and "lymphocytes." The results achieved concerning the effects of fentanyl, methadone, oxycodone, buprenorphine, remifentanil, tramadol, and tapentadol on immune responses in animal studies, in healthy volunteers and in patients are reported. With some limitations due to the different methods used to measure immune system parameters, the large range of opioid doses and the relatively scarce number of participants in the available studies, we conclude that it is not correct to generalize immunosuppression as a common side effect of all opioid molecules.

A Review of the Effects of Pain and Analgesia on Immune System Function and Inflammation: Relevance for Preclinical Studies

One of the most significant challenges facing investigators, laboratory animal veterinarians, and IACUCs, is how to balance appropriate analgesic use, animal welfare, and analgesic impact on experimental results. This is particularly true for in vivo studies on immune system function and inflammatory disease. Often times the effects of analgesic drugs on a particular immune function or model are incomplete or don't exist. Further complicating the picture is evidence of the very tight integration and bidirectional functionality between the immune system and branches of the nervous system involved in nociception and pain. These relationships have advanced the concept of understanding pain as a protective neuroimmune function and recognizing pathologic pain as a neuroimmune disease. This review strives to summarize extant literature on the effects of pain and analgesia on immune system function and inflammation in the context of preclinical in vivo studies. The authors hope this work will help to guide selection of analgesics for preclinical studies of inflammatory disease and immune system function.

Effects of dietary glutamine supplementation on immune cell polarization and muscle regeneration in diabetic mice with limb ischemia

PURPOSE

Diabetes is a chronic inflammatory disorder resulting in endothelial dysfunction which contributes to peripheral arterial disease and limb ischemia. Leukocytes play critical roles in vascular and tissue remodelling after ischemia. This study investigated the effects of dietary glutamine (GLN) supplementation on immune cell polarization in diabetic mice subjected to limb ischemia.

METHODS

Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin for 5 consecutive days in C57BL/6J mice. Diabetic mice were fed the AIN-93 diet or an AIN-93 diet in which a part of the casein was replaced by GLN. After 3 weeks of the dietary intervention, mice were subjected to unilateral femoral artery ligation to induce limb ischemia.

RESULTS

GLN supplementation enhanced the proportion of anti-inflammatory monocytes and regulatory T cells in the blood. Expression of C-C motif chemokine receptor 5 by activated CD4⁺ T cells was promoted and prolonged in the GLN-supplemented group. GLN downregulated the percentage of M1 macrophages in muscle tissues which was correlated with lower levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 in plasma. The muscle M1/M2 ratio was also reduced in the GLN group. Gene expression of interleukin-6 was suppressed by GLN supplementation, while expression levels of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and myogenic differentiation 1 genes were elevated in post-ischemic muscles. Histological findings also indicated that muscle regeneration was accelerated in the GLN group.

CONCLUSIONS

GLN supplementation in diabetic mice may exert more-balanced polarization of CD4⁺ T cells, monocytes, and macrophages, thus attenuating inflammatory responses and contributing to muscle regeneration after limb ischemia.

Immunomodulatory Protein Hydrolysates and Their Application

Immunomodulatory protein hydrolysate consumption may delay or prevent western immune-related diseases. In order to purposively develop protein hydrolysates with an optimal and reproducible immunomodulatory effect, knowledge is needed on which components in protein hydrolysates are responsible for the immune effects. Important advances have been made on this aspect. Also, knowledge on mechanisms underlying the immune modulating effects is indispensable. In this review, we discuss the most promising application possibilities for immunomodulatory protein hydrolysates. In order to do so, an overview is provided on reported in vivo immune effects of protein hydrolysates in both local intestinal and systemic organs, and the current insights in the underlying mechanisms of these effects. Furthermore, we discuss current knowledge and physicochemical approaches to identify the immune active protein sequence(s). We conclude that multiple hydrolysate compositions show specific immune effects. This knowledge can improve the efficacy of existing hydrolysate-containing products such as sports nutrition, clinical nutrition, and infant formula. We also provide arguments for why immunomodulatory protein hydrolysates could be applied to manage the immune response in the increasing number of individuals with a higher risk of immune dysfunction due to, for example, increasing age or stress.

Up-regulation of μ-, δ- and κ-opioid receptors in concanavalin A-stimulated rat spleen lymphocytes

Regulation of μ-, δ- and κ-opioid receptor protein level in spleen lymphocytes when stimulated by mitogen is not known. To answer the question whether these cells do express opioid receptor (OR) proteins, primary, fresh rat spleen lymphocytes were prepared and stimulated for 48 h with mitogenic dose of Con A. The unstimulated lymphocytes did not express μ- and δ-OR proteins in detectable amounts, however, stimulation with Con A resulted in appearance of clearly detectable immunoblot signals of both μ-OR and δ-OR. κ-OR were detected already in primary cells and increased 2.4-fold in Con A-stimulated cells. These results were supported by data obtained by flow cytometry analysis indicating a dramatic increase in number of μ-, δ- and κ-OR expressing cells after mitogen stimulation. The newly synthesized μ-, δ- and κ-OR in Con A-stimulated spleen lymphocytes were present in the cells interior and not functionally mature, at least in terms of their ability to enhance activity of trimeric G proteins determined by three different protocols of agonist-stimulated, high-affinity [³⁵S]GTPγS binding assay. The up-regulation of μ-, δ- and κ-OR was associated with specific decrease of their cognate trimeric G proteins, G_i1α/G_i2α; the other Gα and Gβ subunits were unchanged. The level of β-arrestin-1/2 was also decreased in Con A-stimulated splenocytes. We conclude that up-regulation of OR expression level in spleen lymphocytes by Con A proceeds in conjunction with down-regulation of their intracellular signaling partners, G_i1α/G_i2α proteins and β-arrestin-1/2. These regulatory proteins are expressed in high amounts already in unstimulated cells and decreased by mitogen stimulation.

Chronic Pain in Inflammatory Arthritis: Mechanisms, Metrology, and Emerging Targets-A Focus on the JAK-STAT Pathway

Chronic pain is nowadays considered not only the mainstay symptom of rheumatic diseases but also "a disease itself." Pain is a multidimensional phenomenon, and in inflammatory arthritis, it derives from multiple mechanisms, involving both synovitis (release of a great number of cytokines) and peripheral and central pain-processing mechanisms (sensitization). In the last years, the JAK-STAT pathway has been recognized as a pivotal component both in the inflammatory process and in pain amplification in the central nervous system. This paper provides a summary on pain in inflammatory arthritis, from pathogenesis to clinimetric instruments and treatment, with a focus on the JAK-STAT pathway.

Pharmacoepigenomics of opiates and methadone maintenance treatment: current data and perspectives

Current treatments of opioid addiction include primarily maintenance medications such as methadone. Chronic exposure to opiate and/or long-lasting maintenance treatment induce modulations of gene expression in brain and peripheral tissues. There is increasing evidence that epigenetic modifications underlie these modulations. This review summarizes published results on opioid-induced epigenetic changes in animal models and in patients. The epigenetic modifications observed with other drugs of abuse often used by opiate abusers are also outlined. Specific methadone maintenance treatment induced epigenetic modifications at different treatment stages may be combined with the ones resulting from patients’ substance use history. Therefore, research comparing groups of addicts with similar history and substances use disorders but contrasting for well-characterized treatment phenotypes should be encouraged.

Opioids and Opioid Maintenance Therapies: Their Impact on Monocyte-Mediated HIV Neuropathogenesis

BACKGROUND

HIV-1 enters the CNS within two weeks after peripheral infection and results in chronic neuroinflammation that leads to HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in more than 50% of infected people. HIV enters the CNS by transmigration of infected monocytes across the blood brain barrier. Intravenous drug abuse is a major risk factor for HIV-1 infection, and opioids have been shown to alter the progression and severity of HAND. Methadone and buprenorphine are opioid derivates that are used as opioid maintenance therapies. They are commonly used to treat opioid dependency in HIV infected substance abusers, but their effects on monocyte migration relevant to the development of cognitive impairment are not well characterized.

CONCLUSION

Here, we will discuss the effects of opioids and opioid maintenance therapies on the inflammatory functions of monocytes and macrophages that are related to the development of neuroinflammation in the context of HIV infection.

Immunomodulatory effects of anesthetics in obese patients

Anesthesia and surgery have an impact on inflammatory responses, which influences perioperative homeostasis. Inhalational and intravenous anesthesia can alter immune-system homeostasis through multiple processes that include activation of immune cells (such as monocytes, neutrophils, and specific tissue macrophages) with release of pro- or anti-inflammatory interleukins, upregulation of cell adhesion molecules, and overproduction of oxidative radicals. The response depends on the timing of anesthesia, anesthetic agents used, and mechanisms involved in the development of inflammation or immunosuppression. Obese patients are at increased risk for chronic diseases and may have the metabolic syndrome, which features insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation. Evidence has shown that obesity has adverse impacts on surgical outcome, and that immune cells play an important role in this process. Understanding the effects of anesthetics on immune-system cells in obese patients is important to support proper selection of anesthetic agents, which may affect postoperative outcomes. This review article aims to integrate current knowledge regarding the effects of commonly used anesthetic agents on the lungs and immune response with the underlying immunology of obesity. Additionally, it identifies knowledge gaps for future research to guide optimal selection of anesthetic agents for obese patients from an immunomodulatory standpoint.

Influence of opioids on immune function in patients with cancer pain: from bench to bedside

In patients with cancer, opioids are principally used for the management of acute surgical and chronic cancer-related pain. However, opioids have many non-analgesic effects, including direct and indirect effects on cancer cells and on anti-tumour immunity (NK cells, macrophages and T-cells). Direct effects on immune cells are manifested via opioid and non-opioid toll-like receptors, whereas indirect effects are manifested via the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Opioids can also decrease/alter immune cell infiltration into the tumour micro-environment. Animal models have shown that this is not a class effect, in that morphine and fentanyl suppress NK cell cytotoxicity; buprenorphine does not affect NK cell cytotoxicity, whereas tramadol increases NK cell cytotoxicity, reducing metastasis. In healthy individuals, morphine suppresses and fentanyl enhances NK cell cytotoxicity. In patients undergoing surgery, fentanyl decreased and tramadol increased NK cell cytotoxicity; clinical outcomes were not determined. Meta-analyses of opioid-sparing surgical studies report an association between improved recurrence-free and/or overall survival with regional/neuraxial anaesthesia compared with systemic opioids. In patients receiving opioids for non-surgical cancer-related pain, morphine has variable effects on immunity; clinical outcomes were not assessed. Although there is a potential association between systemic opioid administration and shorter survival in cancer patients with a prognosis of months to years, studies have not been designed to primarily assess survival, as a consequence of which causality cannot be apportioned. Pain is immunosuppressive, so analgesia is important. Opioids for cancer-related pain will continue to be recommended until definitive data on the effects of opioids on clinical outcomes in specific patient groups becomes available.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed section on Emerging Areas of Opioid Pharmacology. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.14/issuetoc.

The impact of prescribed opioids on CD4 cell count recovery among HIV-infected patients newly initiating antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVES

Certain prescribed opioids have immunosuppressive properties, yet their impact on clinically relevant outcomes, including antiretroviral therapy (ART) response among HIV-infected patients, remains understudied.

METHODS

Using the Veterans Aging Cohort Study data, we conducted a longitudinal analysis of 4358 HIV-infected patients initiating ART between 2002 and 2010 and then followed them for 24 months. The primary independent variable was prescribed opioid duration, categorized using pharmacy data as none prescribed, short-term (< 90 days) and long-term (≥ 90 days). Outcomes included CD4 cell count over time. Analyses adjusted for demographics, comorbid conditions, ART type and year of initiation, and overall disease severity [ascertained with the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) Index]. Sensitivity analyses examined whether effects varied according to baseline CD4 cell count, achievement of viral load suppression, and opioid properties (i.e. dose and known immunosuppressive properties).

RESULTS

Compared to those with none, patients with short-term opioids had a similar increase in CD4 cell count (mean rise per year: 74 vs. 68 cells/μL; P = 0.11), as did those with long-term prescribed opioids (mean rise per year: 74 vs. 75 cells/μL; P = 0.98). In sensitivity analysis, compared with no opioids, the effects of short-term prescribed opioids were statistically significant among those with a baseline CD4 cell count ≥ 500 cells/μL (mean rise per year: 52 cells/μL for no opioids vs. 20 cells/μL for short-term opioids; P = 0.04); findings were otherwise unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite immunosuppressive properties intrinsic to opioids, prescribed opioids appeared to have no effect on CD4 cell counts over 24 months among HIV-infected patients initiating ART.

Correlation of Serum β-Endorphin and the Quality of Life in Allergic Rhinitis

Background. Allergic rhinitis (AR) significantly impairs the quality of life of the patients; however, a questionnaire alone is an insufficient and subjective measure of this condition. Obtaining an objective clinical assessment of the level of impairment will be valuable for its treatment. β-Endorphin is one of the most important mediators of both mental state and specific immunity. Thus, we investigated the possibility of using β-endorphin as a biomarker for evaluating the impairment level in AR. Methods. This study included 48 patients with AR and 32 healthy volunteers. The serum β-endorphin level was determined by enzyme immunoassay, and the serum-specific IgE and total IgE levels were determined by immunoblot assay. The Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) was used to assess the impairment level in the symptom duration. Results. The β-endorphin concentration was significantly decreased in AR patients compared to the healthy controls (p = 0.000, p < 0.05). There was significant negative correlation between the impairment level and serum β-endorphin level (correlation coefficient: −0.468; p = 0.001; p < 0.05), but there was no association between the serum β-endorphin and total IgE levels (p = 0.947, p > 0.05). Conclusion. β-Endorphin is a systemic biomarker that has the potential to assess the impairment level in AR and may therefore be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of AR.

Opioid System Modulates the Immune Function: A Review

Opioid receptors and their ligands produce powerful analgesia that is effective in perioperative period and chronic pain managements accompanied with various side effects including respiratory depression, constipation and addiction etc. Opioids can also interfere with the immune system, not only participating in the function of the immune cells, but also modulating innate and acquired immune responses. The traditional notion of opioids is immunosuppressive. Recent studies indicate that the role of opioid receptors on immune function is complicated, working through various different mechanisms. Different opioids or opioids administrations show various effects on the immune system: immunosuppressive, immunostimulatory, or dual effect. It is important to elucidate the relationship between opioids and immune function, since immune system plays critical role in various physiological and pathophysiological processes, including the inflammation, tumor growth and metastasis, drug abuse, and so on. This review article tends to have an overview of the recent work and perspectives on opioids and the immune function.

Endogenous opiates and behavior: 2013

This paper is the thirty-sixth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2013 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior, and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia; stress and social status; tolerance and dependence; learning and memory; eating and drinking; alcohol and drugs of abuse; sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology; mental illness and mood; seizures and neurologic disorders; electrical-related activity and neurophysiology; general activity and locomotion; gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions; cardiovascular responses; respiration and thermoregulation; and immunological responses.

IL-4, JAK-STAT signaling, and pain

During inflammation, several mediators directly or indirectly induce pain including pro-inflammatory cytokines and there is evidence that the JAK-STAT pathway is involved in the formation of pronociceptive cytokines. The same pathway, however, is also of importance for anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 to counteract the inflammatory reaction and-as it seems based on the current literature-nociceptive symptoms. Current therapeutic approaches targeting molecules of the JAK-STAT signaling cascade are auspicious but as this review demonstrates, more experimental and clinical studies are required to decipher the specific contribution of this pathway in the modulation of pain.