Pain, immunity, opiate and opioid compounds and health
by
Stefano GB, Fricchione G, Goumon Y, Esch T.
Neuroscience Research Institute,
State University of New York,
College at Old Westbury,
11568, USA.
gstefano@sunynri.org
Med Sci Monit. 2005 May;11(5):MS47-53.
ABSTRACTWe surmise that opioid peptides, i.e., methionine enkephalin, first arose during evolution as modulators of cellular immune function given their immune actions and the presence of enkelytin, a potent antibacterial peptide, and its precursor proenkephalin in animals 500 million years divergent in evolution. Pain probably emerged from this perspective because of its association with proinflammatory events. Endogenous morphine appears to exert positive effects on homeostasis by limiting the degree of excitation. Supporting this view is the fact that the mu3 opiate receptor subtype, which is opioid peptide insensitive and morphine selective, is coupled to constitutive nitric oxide release, which also has this down regulating action in neural, immune, vascular and gastrointestinal tissues. Thus, morphine down regulates immune processes in addiction, an action/function that it appears to normally perform when the situation calls for this action and by so doing in this natural setting, sustains life.Morphine: structure
Endogenous morphine
Morphine biosynthesis?
Morphine and serotonin
Morphinergic signalling system utilising NO
Human white blood cells synthesize morphine
Opioids, depression and learned helplessness
Morphine as a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator
Morphine in amygdala and the mu3 opiate receptor
Morphine directly inhibits nociceptors in inflamed skin
Endogenous morphine and ACTH association in the brain
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