Naloxone Inhibits the In Vivo Immunosuppressive Effects of Morphine and Thermal Injury in Mice

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Abstract
The effect of opioids (both exogenous and endogenous) on cell-mediated immune response in normal and thermally injured mice was evaluated with a delayed-type hypersensitivity assay. The administration of morphine sulfate to normal mice resulted in decreased delayed-type hypersensitivity response. This morphine sulfate-induced immunosuppression was prevented by concurrent treatment with the opioid antagonist, naloxone; however, naloxone alone did not alter immune response. Thermally injured mice had a suppressed delayed-type hypersensitivity response that was not further affected by morphine sulfate administration. In contrast, the immunosuppressive effects caused by burn injury, alone or in combination with the administration of morphine sulfate, were not observed in the presence of naloxone as measured by delayed-type hypersensitivity response. These results suggest that opioids depress cellular immune response and may play a role in immune dysfunction that follows thermal injury.

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