Chronic morphine-induced microRNA-124 promotes microglial immunosuppression by modulating P65 and TRAF6.

ABSTRACT: Opioids have been widely applied in clinics as one of the most potent pain relievers for centuries, but their abuse has deleterious physiological effects including immunosuppression. However, the mechanisms are unclear. TLRs and acetylcholine are widely expressed in the immune and nervous systems, and play critical roles in immune responses. In this article, we show that morphine suppresses the innate immunity in microglia and bone marrow-derived macrophages through differential regulation of TLRs and acetylcholinesterase. Either morphine or inhibition of acetylcholine significantly promotes upregulation of microRNA-124 (miR-124) in microglia, bone marrow-derived macrophages, and the mouse brain, where miR-124 mediates morphine inhibition of the innate immunity by directly targeting a subu

SUBMITTER: Qiu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4297711 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature