PMID- 20718737
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20101228
LR  - 20211020
IS  - 1476-5381 (Electronic)
IS  - 0007-1188 (Print)
IS  - 0007-1188 (Linking)
VI  - 161
IP  - 1
DP  - 2010 Sep
TI  - Methylenedioxymethamphetamine ('Ecstasy')-induced immunosuppression: a cause for 
      concern?
PG  - 17-32
LID - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00899.x [doi]
AB  - Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'Ecstasy') is a ring-substituted amphetamine 
      and a popular drug of abuse. In addition to ability to induce euphoria, MDMA 
      abuse is associated with a range of acute and long-term hazardous effects. This 
      paper is focused on once such adverse effect: its ability to negatively impact on 
      functioning of the immune system. Research demonstrates that MDMA has 
      immunosuppressive properties, with both innate and adaptive arms of the immune 
      system being affected. The ability of MDMA to suppress innate immunity is 
      indicated by impaired neutrophil phagocytosis and reduced production of dendritic 
      cell/macrophage-derived pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumour necrosis 
      factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-12 and IL-15. MDMA also suppresses 
      innate IFN-gamma production, and considering the role of IFN-gamma in priming 
      antigen-presenting cells, it is not surprising that MDMA reduces MHC class II 
      expression on dendritic cells and macrophages, and inhibits co-stimulatory 
      molecule expression. Paradoxically, studies demonstrate that MDMA elicits 
      pro-inflammatory actions in the CNS by activating microglia, the resident innate 
      immune cells in the brain. In terms of adaptive immunity, MDMA reduces 
      circulating lymphocyte numbers, particularly CD4(+) T-cells; suppresses T-cell 
      proliferation; and skews cytokine production in a Th(2) direction. For the most 
      part, the immunosuppressive effects of MDMA cannot be attributed to a direct 
      action of the drug on immune cells, but rather due to the release of endogenous 
      immunomodulatory substances. In this regard, peripheral beta-adrenoceptors and 
      cholinergic receptors have been shown to mediate some immunosuppressive effects 
      of MDMA. Finally, we discuss emerging evidence indicating that MDMA-induced 
      immunosuppression can translate into significant health risks for abusers.
FAU - Boyle, Noreen T
AU  - Boyle NT
AD  - Neuroimmunology Research Group, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, 
      Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
FAU - Connor, Thomas J
AU  - Connor TJ
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PT  - Review
PL  - England
TA  - Br J Pharmacol
JT  - British journal of pharmacology
JID - 7502536
RN  - 0 (Hallucinogens)
RN  - KE1SEN21RM (N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine)
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - Hallucinogens/chemistry/*toxicity
MH  - Humans
MH  - Immune System/*drug effects
MH  - Molecular Structure
MH  - N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/chemistry/*toxicity
PMC - PMC2962814
EDAT- 2010/08/20 06:00
MHDA- 2010/12/29 06:00
PMCR- 2011/09/01
CRDT- 2010/08/20 06:00
PHST- 2010/08/20 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2010/08/20 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2010/12/29 06:00 [medline]
PHST- 2011/09/01 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - BPH899 [pii]
AID - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00899.x [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Br J Pharmacol. 2010 Sep;161(1):17-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00899.x.