The long-term goal of this research is to identify the mechanisms that underlie the immunomodulatory effects of opioids and to understand their role in health and disease. Expression of opioid receptors by cells of the immune system makes them subject to modulation by opiate drugs and to endogenous opioid peptides which are synthesized within the immune system as well by the pituitary. Extensive evidence for opioid modulation of immune function in in vitro assays indicates that opioid Immunomodulation likely has important clinical consequences. The appropriate polarization of T cells to effectors, which secrete distinct panels of cytokines is critical for mounting effective immune responses. A strong T1 cytokine response inCD8+ T cells is correlated with HIV specific immunity and repressed viral replication but may also contribute to transmission of the virus. In the current grant, methionine enkephalin (Menk), an endogenous delta opioid receptor (dOR) selective opioid peptide, has been shown to polarize CD8+ Tcells towards a T(c)l phenotype. And, the T cell CD28 co-receptor has been shown to play an important role in inducing dOR expression in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. DOR expression in dendritic cells also has been found.
In Aim 1 of this proposal, the intracellular MAPK signaling pathways responsible forCD28 T cell co-receptor dependent induction of dOR expression and its subsequent down regulation will be investigated in murine T cells. The role of the sphingomyelinase signaling pathways in regulating dOR expression will be examined in Aim 2. Based on the expression of dORs in both T cells and antigen presenting cells (APC) at the time that Menk addition modulates polarization. We hypothesize that opioid modulation of APC T cell interactions during initial T cell activation results in the polarizing activity. To identify the mechanisms responsible, the effects of Menk and dOR selective agonists on the expression of initial polarizing cytokines (Aim3) and chemokines (Aim 4) will be examined during initial T cell activation in a mouse model system. Menk and dOR dependent modulation of viral clearance in a CD8+T cell and IFNg dependent murine model will be used to test the physiological relevance of in vitro findings in Aim 5.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA008801-10
Application #
6865480
Study Section
AIDS and Related Research 8 (AARR)
Program Officer
Sharp, Charles
Project Start
1994-09-01
Project End
2008-02-29
Budget Start
2005-03-01
Budget End
2008-02-29
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$273,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Sw Medical Center Dallas
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771545
City
Dallas
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
75390
Shelton, Keith L; Beardsley, Patrick M (2008) Effect of drug-paired exteroceptive stimulus presentations on methamphetamine reinstatement in rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 90:434-40
Beardsley, Patrick M; Howard, James L; Shelton, Keith L et al. (2005) Differential effects of the novel kappa opioid receptor antagonist, JDTic, on reinstatement of cocaine-seeking induced by footshock stressors vs cocaine primes and its antidepressant-like effects in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 183:118-26
Abougergi, Marwan S; Gidner, Sarah J; Spady, David K et al. (2005) Fas and TNFR1, but not cytolytic granule-dependent mechanisms, mediate clearance of murine liver adenoviral infection. Hepatology 41:97-105
Shelton, Keith L; Hendrick, Elizabeth; Beardsley, Patrick M (2004) Interaction of noncontingent cocaine and contingent drug-paired stimuli on cocaine reinstatement. Eur J Pharmacol 497:35-40
Miller, Bonnie C; Eckman, Elizabeth A; Sambamurti, Kumar et al. (2003) Amyloid-beta peptide levels in brain are inversely correlated with insulysin activity levels in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100:6221-6
Nguyen, Khanh; Miller, Bonnie C (2002) CD28 costimulation induces delta opioid receptor expression during anti-CD3 activation of T cells. J Immunol 168:4440-5
Miller, B (1996) delta opioid receptor expression is induced by concanavalin A in CD4+ T cells. J Immunol 157:5324-8
Miller, B C; Thiele, D; Hersh, L B et al. (1996) A secreted peptidase involved in T cell beta-endorphin metabolism. Immunopharmacology 31:151-61
Safavi, A; Miller, B C; Cottam, L et al. (1996) Identification of gamma-endorphin-generating enzyme as insulin-degrading enzyme. Biochemistry 35:14318-25