Abstract
We investigated whether morphine and fentanyl influence surface receptor expression, phagocytic activity and superoxide anion generation of neutrophils in a whole blood flow cytometric assay. Morphine suppressed complement and Fcγ receptor expression and neutrophil function in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Morphine-induced changes were similar to those caused by the nitric oxide (NO) donor S-nitroso- N-acetyl-penicillamine and were abolished by preincubation with the NO synthase inhibitor N-nitro- l-arginine as well as naloxone. Fentanyl had no immunosuppressive effects. These results suggest that these neutrophil functions are inhibited by morphine-stimulated NO release mediated by the μ 3 opiate receptor subtype found on immunocytes.
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