PMID: 11931709Apr 5, 2002Paper

Reduction in monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of diamorphine addicts

Acta Pharmacologica Sinica
Lie-Chang SongNing Lou

Abstract

To investigate whether there is a significant difference in the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA expression between diamorphine ( heroin) addicts and normal volunteers. Expression of MCP-1 mRNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of diamorphine addicts and normal volunteers was examine d by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with beta -actin as a n internal standard. Sequencing of RT-PCR products was performed to confirm the specificity of these products in MCP-1 gene composition. The relative M CP-1 mRNA expression ratios (MCP-1/beta-actin) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of normal volunteers control group and diamorphine addicts group were 0.47 +/- 0.12 (n = 15) and 0.21 +/- 0.09 (n =2 1), respectively, and there was a significant difference (P < 0.05). The significant reduction of MCP-1 mRNA expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of diamorphine addicts may be one of the mechanisms for the high incidence o f severe infectious diseases, including AIDS, among diamorphine addicts.

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