IMMUNOMODULATOR AS MEDICINE FOR MORPHINE AND COCAINE DEPENDENCE - ESPECIALLY EFFECT OF LPS

The majority of medicines developed for narcotic and stimulant depende nce were agonists or antagonists of neurotransmitters and their recept ors. Recently it has been shown that the nervous system, the endocrine system and the immune system are regulated by mutual interaction. The nervous system and the endocrine system are influenced by an immunomo dulator, and the immune system is regulated by a neurotransmitter. In this report, medicines for morphine and cocaine dependence are first s urveyed and then medicines for drug dependence through the activation of the immune system are introduced including our results which show t he effect of macrophage activator such as LPS on morphine and cocaine dependence. The LPS purified from Pantoea agglomerans showed a relief effect on physical dependence of morphine and psychic dependence of co caine, while it induced endogenous opioid, beta-endorphin. The inducti on of beta-endorphin was recognized to be in synchrony with the time c ourse and dose response of the relief of dependence. These data sugges t the participation of endogenous opioid such as beta-endorphin induce d by LPS after the activation of macrophage leading to the relief of m orphine and cocaine dependence.