Naltrexone prevents ethanol-induced changes in rat thymus

Alcohol
M BudecD Kosec

Abstract

Ethanol is known to suppress the immune response, but the underlying mechanism accounting for the immunosuppression is not clearly elucidated yet. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a single dose of ethanol on relative proportion of the four major rat thymocyte subsets and possible mechanism of its action. To this end, adult female AO rats were treated with: a) ethanol (2 or 4 g/kg, i.p.), b) naltrexone (5 mg/kg, i.p.) followed 45 min later by ethanol (2 or 4 g/kg, i.p.), c) naltrexone (5 mg/kg, i.p.), or d) only saline. Twenty hours later the rats were sacrificed and the proportion of the four major thymocyte populations defined by expression of CD4 and CD8 molecules was analyzed. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that ethanol evoked a decrease in the percentage of double-positive CD4+CD8+ thymocytes followed by a proportional increase in the percentage of single-positive CD4+CD8- cells. Naltrexone pretreatment prevented the ethanol-induced alterations in thymocyte subsets. The results clearly indicate that ethanol affects the process of intrathymic T-cell maturation. It seems that this effect might be mediated by an opioid-dependent mechanism.

References

Jun 1, 1992·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·M BudecR Aŝanin
Aug 1, 1990·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·T R JerrellsM J Eckardt
Jan 1, 1990·International Journal of Immunopharmacology·T R JerrellsM J Eckardt
Aug 1, 1989·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·M Aldo-Benson
Aug 1, 1989·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·T R JerrellsM J Eckardt
Dec 1, 1987·Immunological Reviews·D A Weigent, J E Blalock
Feb 1, 1988·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·M G Mutchnick, H H Lee
Oct 1, 1987·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T Lacaze-MasmonteilX Bertagna
Dec 1, 1981·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·E M Smith, J E Blalock
Jan 1, 1993·Springer Seminars in Immunopathology·F Homo-Delarche, M Dardenne
Sep 1, 1993·Immunology Today·R L BoydP Hugo
Apr 1, 1993·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·S J Ewald, H Shao
Nov 28, 2007·Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology : the Official Journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology·Jean M BidlackChristopher M Tipton

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 7, 1999·International Journal of Immunopharmacology·W XuK Ault
Jan 1, 1997·Peptides·G A OlsonA J Kastin
May 1, 2007·International Immunopharmacology·Mirela BudecOlivera Mitrović

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.