Immunomodulatory Effects of Endogenous and Synthetic Peptides Activating Opioid Receptors

Title:Immunomodulatory Effects of Endogenous and Synthetic Peptides Activating Opioid Receptors

Volume: 14 Issue: 14

Author(s): Dorota K. Pomorska, Katarzyna Gach and Anna Janecka

Affiliation:

Keywords: Endogenous opioid peptides, immune system, immunomodulation, morphine, opioid receptors, synthetic opioid peptides.

Abstract: The main role of endogenous opioid peptides is the modulation of pain. Opioid peptides exert their analgesic activity by binding to the opioid receptors distributed widely in the central nervous system (CNS). However, opioid receptors are also found on tissues and organs outside the CNS, including the cells of the immune system, indicating that opioids are capable of exerting additional effects in periphery. Morphine, which is a gold standard in the treatment of chronic pain, is well-known for its immunosuppressive effects. Much less is known about the immunomodulatory effects exerted by endogenous (enkephalins, endorphins, dynorphins and endomorphins) and synthetic peptides activating opioid receptors. In this review we tried to summarize opioid peptide-mediated modulation of immune cell functions which can be stimulatory as well as inhibitory.

Cite this article as:

Pomorska K. Dorota, Gach Katarzyna and Janecka Anna, Immunomodulatory Effects of Endogenous and Synthetic Peptides Activating Opioid Receptors, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 2014; 14 (14) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389557515666150101095237