The Effect of Methadone on the Immune Status of B6C3F1 Mice

Epidemiologic Investigation and Targeted Vaccination Initiative in Response to an Outbreak of Meningococcal Disease among Illicit Drug Users in Brooklyn, New York

“…Similarly, inhalation of cocaine damages the respiratory tract mucosa and may facilitate invasion [17]. Furthermore, both opiates and marijuana have been implicated as immunosuppressors in humans and animals [18][19][20]. This phenomenon, combined with a greater probability of exposure during an outbreak affecting illicit drug users, could explain the observed clustering of cases within the illicit drug-using community.…”

Regulatory immunotoxicology: does the published evidence support mandatory nonclinical immune function screening in drug development?

“…A pharmacodynamic mechanism (receptor-mediated pathway involving release of corticosterone) for immunological effects produced by morphine and methadone has been demonstrated in mice (LeVier et al, 1994(LeVier et al, , 1995. Other mechanistic studies suggest that central opioid pathways are involved in the immunosuppressive effects of morphine (Hernandez et al, 1993) possibly coupled with an adrenal-dependent lymphopenia (Flores et al, 1995).…”

“…More comprehensive evaluations showed both augmentative and suppressive changes in NK-cell activity following prolonged dietary administration of morphine and methadone, but no effects on PFC activity were noted (Van der Laan et al, 1996). However, other studies on morphine generally showed immunosuppressive responses in terms of lymphocyte subsets, NK-cell activity and T-cell antigen responses (Condevaux et al, 2001;LeVier et al, 1995).…”

Role of Alcohol and Substances of Abuse in the Immunomodulation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disease

“…However, the emerging role of opiates upon the immune system forces a closer examination of these models. A study by LeVier and colleagues 22 suggests that methadone, like morphine, elevates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and suppresses the immune system via elevations in corticosteroid levels through a reduction in splenic and hepatic phagocytic activity. Similarly, Thomas and colleagues 23 have linked methadone to decreased B-cell proliferation and inhibition of IL-2 and IL-4, suggesting diminishment in NK cell and macrophage function, respectively.…”