PMID- 15056370
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20040520
LR  - 20181113
IS  - 0019-2805 (Print)
IS  - 1365-2567 (Electronic)
IS  - 0019-2805 (Linking)
VI  - 111
IP  - 4
DP  - 2004 Apr
TI  - Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy'): a stressor on the immune system.
PG  - 357-67
AB  - Drug abuse is a global problem of considerable concern to health. One such health 
      concern stems from the fact that many drugs of abuse have immunosuppressive 
      actions and consequently have the potential to increase susceptibility to 
      infectious disease. This article is focused on the impact of the amphetamine 
      derivative, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'Ecstasy') on immunity. Research 
      conducted over the last 5 years, in both laboratory animals and humans, has 
      demonstrated that MDMA has immunosuppressive actions. Specifically, MDMA 
      suppresses neutrophil phagocytosis, suppresses production of the pro-inflammatory 
      cytokines tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-1beta, 
      and increases production of the endogenous immunosuppressive cytokine (IL-10), 
      thereby promoting an immunosuppressive cytokine phenotype. MDMA also suppresses 
      circulating lymphocyte numbers, with CD4+ T cells being particularly affected, 
      and alters T-cell function as indicated by reduced mitogen-stimulated T-cell 
      proliferation, and a skewing of T-cell cytokine production in a T helper 2 (Th2) 
      direction. For the most part, the aforementioned effects of MDMA are not the 
      result of a direct action of the drug on immune cells, but rather caused by the 
      release of endogenous immunomodulatory substances. Consequently, the 
      physiological mechanisms that are thought to underlie the immunosuppressive 
      effects of MDMA will be discussed. As many of the physiological changes elicited 
      by MDMA closely resemble those induced by acute stress, it is suggested that 
      exposure to MDMA could be regarded as a 'chemical stressor' on the immune system. 
      Finally, the potential of MDMA-induced immunosuppression to translate into 
      significant health risks for abusers of the drug will be discussed.
FAU - Connor, Thomas J
AU  - Connor TJ
AD  - Department of Physiology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity 
      College, Dublin, Ireland. connort@tcd.ie
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PT  - Review
PL  - England
TA  - Immunology
JT  - Immunology
JID - 0374672
RN  - 0 (Hallucinogens)
RN  - KE1SEN21RM (N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine)
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - Disease Models, Animal
MH  - Hallucinogens/*toxicity
MH  - Humans
MH  - Immune System/*drug effects
MH  - Immune Tolerance/drug effects
MH  - N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/*toxicity
MH  - Substance-Related Disorders/immunology
PMC - PMC1782451
EDAT- 2004/04/02 05:00
MHDA- 2004/05/21 05:00
PMCR- 2005/04/01
CRDT- 2004/04/02 05:00
PHST- 2004/04/02 05:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2004/05/21 05:00 [medline]
PHST- 2004/04/02 05:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2005/04/01 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - IMM1847 [pii]
AID - 10.1111/j.0019-2805.2004.01847.x [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Immunology. 2004 Apr;111(4):357-67. doi: 10.1111/j.0019-2805.2004.01847.x.