The toll of opioid dependence: A research report on the possible role of Toll-like receptor-4 and related immune markers in opioid dependence.
Indian J Psychiatry
; 65(6): 626-634, 2023 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37485408
ABSTRACT
Background:
The opioid receptors in the central nervous system and immune system contribute to its reinforcing effect. Xenobiotics-associated molecular pattern of opioids interacts with Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) on the glial cell surface and increases dopaminergic activity in the nucleus accumbens in preclinical studies. We wanted to examine whether treatment with buprenorphine-naloxone (BNX) might be associated with changes in immunological markers in individuals with opioid dependence (OD).Methods:
We recruited 30 individuals with OD on buprenorphine and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). We measured the neutrophil (N), lymphocyte (L), CD-4, and CD-8 T-cell count and estimated plasma TLR-4 level in the HC group once. We measured the immunological markers, craving, pain, and perceived stress in the OD group at the treatment initiation (baseline) and after 4 weeks (±2 weeks) of treatment with BNX.Results:
The mean severity score on the OD questionnaire was 72.8 (SD 5.4). At baseline, OD had a higher N L ratio and lower lymphocyte percentage than HC. Plasma TLR-4 concentration increased significantly after 1 month of treatment (t = -3.09, P = 0.004). Craving, pain, and perceived stress correlated with absolute neutrophil count, N L ratio, and CD-8 T-cell count, although lost significance after corrections for multiple comparisons.Conclusion:
The increase in TLR-4 after treatment with BNX may indicate the rescue from nonprescription opioid-induced immunosuppression or the introduction of a novel xenobiotics-associated molecular pattern of BNX.
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MEDLINE
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Ano de publicação:
2023
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Article