Immunomodulatory responses to δ-opioid receptor ligands in human lymphocytes

Abstract

In phytohemagglutinin (PHA) activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, [ 3 H ]thymidine uptake and interferon γ production were increased by the δ-opioid receptor agonist, deltorphin-I (10 −14–10 −10 M) and by the δ-opioid antagonist naltrindole (10 −13–10 −9 M). Combination of 10 −9 M naltrindole with deltorphin-I (10 −12–10 −8 M) significantly inhibited the proliferative response but did not affect interferon production.