Morphine Induces a Neuroimmune Response in Healthy Volunteers: Implications for Opioid Use Disorder

Abstract

Preclinical studies indicate opioid administration evokes pro-inflammatory responses in both the periphery and brain. Opioid-induced pro-inflammatory responses influence both appetitive and dysphoric addiction processes and thus, may influence the development of opioid use disorder (OUD) and/or perpetuate continued opioid use among OUD patients. Herein, we investigated the neuroimmune effects of morphine administration using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging with [11C]PBR28, a radiotracer that binds to the 18kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a marker sensitive to immune stimuli.