Hansen W, Luppus S, Barthel R, Chang D, Broemstrup J, Zwarg T, Shibata J, Westendorf AM, Buer J, Scherbaum N. Heroin-assisted treatment of heroin-addicted patients normalizes regulatory T cells but does not restore CD4
+ T cell proliferation.
Addict Biol 2021;
26:e12998. [PMID:
33336491 DOI:
10.1111/adb.12998]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
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.
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