Despite a wealth of data indicating that morphine can modulate the immune system indirectly by acting in the brain, little is known regarding the neural mechanisms that underlie opioid-induced immunomodulation. The current proposal seeks to further establish and extend our recent finding that central dopamine systems mediate the effects of morphine on the immune system. In particular, this proposal seeks to elucidate the role of nucleus accumbens dopamine in opioid-mediated neuroimmune regulation.
Specific Aim I tests the hypothesis that morphine-induced reductions in splenic NK cell activity occur via activation of dopaminergic neurons that project to the nucleus accumbens.
Specific Aim II elaborates upon the first aim by testing specific dopamine receptor mechanisms that mediate morphine-induced NK cell suppression.
Specific Aim directly and thoroughly tests the hypothesis that activation of opioid receptors in the VTA mediates morphine's suppressive effect on NK cell activity by stimulating dopaminergic neurons innervating the nucleus accumbens. Collectively, the proposed studies will provide innovative and important new data regarding the neural mechanisms underlying immunomodulation by opioid drugs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31DA019323-02
Application #
7116929
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Lawrence, Diane M
Project Start
2005-08-15
Project End
2007-08-14
Budget Start
2006-08-15
Budget End
2007-08-14
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$28,893
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Saurer, Timothy B; Ijames, Stephanie G; Lysle, Donald T (2009) Evidence for the nucleus accumbens as a neural substrate of heroin-induced immune alterations. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 329:1040-7
Saurer, Timothy B; Ijames, Stephanie G; Carrigan, Kelly A et al. (2008) Neuroimmune mechanisms of opioid-mediated conditioned immunomodulation. Brain Behav Immun 22:89-97