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Morphine induces bacterial translocation in mice by compromising intestinal barrier function in a TLR-dependent manner.

ABSTRACT: Opiates are among the most prescribed drugs for pain management. However, morphine use or abuse results in significant gut bacterial translocation and predisposes patients to serious infections with gut origin. The mechanism underlying this defect is still unknown. In this report, we investigated the mechanisms underlying compromised gut immune function and bacterial translocation following morphine treatment. We demonstrate significant bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and liver following morphine treatment in wild-type (WT) animals that was dramatically and significantly attenuated in Toll-like receptor (TLR2 and 4) knockout mice. We further observed significant disruption of tight junction protein organization only in the ileum but not in the colon of morphine treated WT animals. Inhibition of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) blocked the effects of both morphine and TLR ligands, suggesting the role of MLCK in tight junction modulation by TLR. This study conclusively demonstrates that morphine induced gut epithelial barrier dysfunction and subsequent bacteria translocation are mediated by TLR signaling and thus TLRs can be exploited as potential therapeutic targets for alleviating infections and even sepsis in morphine-using or abusing populations.

SUBMITTER: Meng J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3548814 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Morphine induces bacterial translocation in mice by compromising intestinal barrier function in a TLR-dependent manner.

Meng Jingjing J Yu Haidong H Ma Jing J Wang Jinghua J Banerjee Santanu S Charboneau Rick R Barke Roderick A RA Roy Sabita S

PloS one 20130118 1

Opiates are among the most prescribed drugs for pain management. However, morphine use or abuse results in significant gut bacterial translocation and predisposes patients to serious infections with gut origin. The mechanism underlying this defect is still unknown. In this report, we investigated the mechanisms underlying compromised gut immune function and bacterial translocation following morphine treatment. We demonstrate significant bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and ...[more]

PMID: 23349783

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Project description:BACKGROUND: Although clinical and experimental studies have demonstrated a correlation between obstructive jaundice and the development of sepsis, the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of biliary obstruction on bacterial translocation as a possible source of infection in cases of obstructive jaundice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two groups of 12 Wistar rats were examined: rats subjected to common bile duct (CBD) ligation (group A) and rats subjected to a sham operation (group B). After 7 days, blood samples were taken and liver, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) from the ileocecal area were removed, divided into small pieces, and cultured. Quantitative culture results were determined by the number of colony-forming units (CFU) per milliliter of homogenate. Bacterial translocation was defined as the presence of a positive culture of MLNs, blood, liver, and/or spleen. Samples for histopathological examination were taken from the mucosa of the ileum and the colon and evaluated for inflammatory and destructive changes. RESULTS: There was no evidence of bacterial translocation to MLNs, blood, spleen, or liver detected in any of the 12 sham-operated control rats. In contrast, bacterial translocation was demonstrated in 8 of the 12 CBD-ligated rats (P < 0.01). In all eight cases in which translocation occurred, Escherichia coli were cultured from the MLNs. There were no histological changes in the mucosal samples of the control animals. In the CBD-ligated rats, hyperemia, vacuolization, reduction of goblet cells, decreased mitotic activity, and infiltration by lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) were detected. Cases in which translocation occurred were significantly associated with decreased mitotic activity in the colon (r = -0.5, P < 0.01) and higher infiltration by PMNLs in the ileum (r = -0.62, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Obstructive jaundice in a rat model predisposes to bacterial translocation. This suggests a mechanism whereby jaundiced patients are susceptible to septic complication.

Dataset Information

Morphine induces bacterial translocation in mice by compromising intestinal barrier function in a TLR-dependent manner.

Publications

Morphine induces bacterial translocation in mice by compromising intestinal barrier function in a TLR-dependent manner.

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