| First Author | Wang J | Year | 2002 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 169 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 3630-6 |
| PubMed ID | 12244154 | Mgi Jnum | J:79236 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2387537 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.169.7.3630 |
| Citation | Wang J, et al. (2002) micro -Opioid Receptor Mediates Chronic Restraint Stress-Induced Lymphocyte Apoptosis. J Immunol 169(7):3630-6 |
| abstractText | Psychological stress is associated with immunosuppression in both humans and animals. Although it was well established that psychological stressors stimulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in the release of various hormones and neurotransmitters, the mechanisms underlying these phenomena are poorly understood. In this study, micro -opioid receptor knockout (MORKO) mice were used to investigate whether the micro -opioid receptor mediates the immunosuppression induced by restraint stress. Our results showed that wild-type (WT) mice subjected to chronic 12-h daily restraint stress for 2 days exhibited a significant decrease in splenocyte number with a substantial increase in apoptosis and CD95 (Fas/APO-1) expression of splenocytes. The effects are essentially abolished in MORKO mice. Furthermore, inhibition of splenic lymphocyte proliferation, IL-2, and IFN-gamma production induced by restraint stress in WT mice was also significantly abolished in MORKO mice. Interestingly, both stressed WT and MORKO mice showed a significant elevation in plasma corticosterone and pituitary proopiomelanocortin mRNA expression, although the increase was significantly lower in MORKO mice. Adrenalectomy did not reverse restraint stress-induced immunosuppression in WT mice. These data clearly established that the micro -opioid receptor is involved in restraint stress-induced immune alterations via a mechanism of apoptotic cell death, and that the effect is not mediated exclusively through the glucocorticoid pathway. |
