Immune system endogenous opioids

Carpentier PA, Duncan DS, Miller SD (2008) GUal toU-hke receptor signaling in central nervous system infection and autoimmunity. Brain Behav Immun 22 140-147 Carr DJ, Serou M (1995) Exogenous and endogenous opioids as biological response modifiers. Immunopharmacology 31 59-71... 

The endogenous opioids are another family of peptides involved in different physiological processes including pain regulation, respiratory control, stress responses, appetite, thermoregulation, and humoral and cellular immune function (Bodnar RJ., 2008). Opioids act through their receptors, which are also members of the GPCR family, and are expressed in the central and peripheral nervous system as well as on cells of the immune system (Henriksen and Willoch 2008 Hauser... 

Such events show how the immune, endocrine and central nervous systems are integrated in their responses to any form of stress. It is well established that physical or psychosocial stress causes increased secretions of prolactin, growth hormones, thyroid, and gonadal hormones, in addition to ACTH. Endogenous opioids are secreted under such conditions and function as immunomodulators, while also elevating the pain threshold. Receptors for such hormones exist on immunocompetent cells, along with receptors for catecholamines, serotonin and acetylcholine. 

Carr DJJ (1991) The role of endogenous opioids and their receptors in the immune system. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 198 710-720. 

Opioid peptides including the enkephalins, endorphins and dynorphins (Table 2b) have a variety of actions on inter alia pituitary hormone secretion and the immune system. Since release of endogenous opioids... 

---