Morphine modulates chemokine gene regulation in normal human astrocytes Article

Mahajan, SD, Schwartz, SA, Aalinkeel, R et al. (2005). Morphine modulates chemokine gene regulation in normal human astrocytes . 115(3), 323-332. 10.1016/j.clim.2005.02.004

cited authors

  • Mahajan, SD; Schwartz, SA; Aalinkeel, R; Chawda, RP; Sykes, DE; Nair, MPN

authors

abstract

  • Chemokines and their receptors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neuroAIDS. Herein we describe the effects of morphine on the gene expression of β chemokines and their receptors by primary normal human astrocytes (NHA). Our results show that NHA treated with morphine showed significant downregulation of the gene expression of β chemokines, MCP-1, and MIP-1 β, while reciprocally upregulating the expression of their specific receptors, CCR2b, CCR3, and CCR5 as detected by real-time quantitative PCR. These morphine-induced effects on NHA cells were reversed by the opioid μ receptor antagonist, naloxone. Further, our results indicate that morphine-induced effects are mediated via the modulation of MAPK and CREB signaling pathways. These results support our hypothesis that opiates act as co-factors in the neuropathogenesis of HIV infection. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

publication date

  • June 1, 2005

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 323

end page

  • 332

volume

  • 115

issue

  • 3