Effect of opium and related detoxification drugs on RAW 264.7 macrophages

Abstract

Detoxification drugs used for opium (OPM) withdrawal, such as Buprenorphine (BUP), Naltrexone (NTX), and Methadone (MTD), can have adverse inhibitory effects. In a recent study, the impact of opium and these detoxification drugs on cytokines secreted by RAW 264.7 macrophages was examined. The M1 model (positive control) used LPS-stimulated macrophages, while the M0 model (negative control) used DMSO-treated macrophages. The study measured the ratios of inflammatory (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6) to Anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β) secreted by RAW 264.7 macrophages exposed to OPM and the detoxification drugs using Real-time PCR. The results showed that in the M1 model, the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-10 significantly increased with OPM+MTD (P<0.001) and OPM+BUP (P<0.05). Similarly, the INF-γ/TGF-β ratio increased significantly with OPM+MTD (P<0.001), OPM+BUP (P<0.01), and OPM+NTX (P<0.05) compared to the negative control. Compared to the M0 model, the TNF-α/IL-10 and TNF-α/TGF-β ratios showed the highest increase with OPM+BUP (P<0.001) and OPM+MTD (P<0.01). Additionally, OPM+BUP (P<0.001) and OPM+MTD (P<0.05) exhibited the greatest increase in the IL-6/IL-10 ratio, and OPM+BUP (P<0.001) also showed a significant upward trend in the IL-6/TGF-β ratio. These findings suggest that buprenorphine and methadone may have potential as therapies for reducing inflammation in opium-treated macrophages by increasing M1 cytokines and enhancing immune responses.

Keywords: Opium, Macrophage, Inflammation, Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, Methadone