Functional interaction between HIV-gp120 and opioid system in the preoptic anterior hypothalamus

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2014 Jan 1:134:383-386. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.09.015. Epub 2013 Sep 26.

Abstract

Background: Recently we found that fever (part of HIV-related wasting) is induced by the action of the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (gp120) in the preoptic anterior hypothalamus (POAH). As the opioid system plays a role in the pathogenesis of HIV-1, in the present study we sought to examine the capacity of the opioid system to regulate the febrile response induced by gp120.

Methods: Stainless steel cannulas were stereotactically into the POAH, and a biotelemetry system was used to monitor the body temperature (Tb changes). We examined the in vivo effects of naloxone as well as highly opioid-selective receptor antagonists, on gp120-induced fever.

Results: Pretreatment with naloxone or the mu-opioid receptor-selective antagonist, cyclic d-Phe-Cys-Tyr-d-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH(2) (CTAP), significantly delayed the febrile response induced by gp120. In contrast, naltriben (NTB), a selective antagonist for the delta-2 opioid receptor, did not cause any effect on gp120-induced fever.

Conclusion: These results (1) provide pharmacologic evidence of a functional in vivo interaction between the opioid system and this viral protein in the POAH and (2) show that mu-opioid receptors can regulate gp120-induced fever.

Keywords: Fever; HIV; Opioid system and gp120.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fever / chemically induced
  • Fever / metabolism
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / physiology*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / toxicity*
  • Hypothalamus, Anterior / drug effects
  • Hypothalamus, Anterior / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Narcotic Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Preoptic Area / drug effects
  • Preoptic Area / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / physiology*

Substances

  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu