Immune response products alter CNS acitivity: Interferon modulates central opioid function

The presents report provides evidence to support the hypothesis that peptides released during an immune response alter CNS activity and thus may provide a means for the immune system to transmit afferent single into the brain. Specifically, it is demonstrated that recombinant interferon‐alpha (rIFN‐α), a peptide associated with the immune response to viral infection, can alter opiate withdrawal severity in a dose‐dependent manner upon direct injection into brain areas essential for this phenomenon. These results are compared and contrasted with the effect of systemically injected rIEN‐α upon opiate withdrawal. In addition, an electrophysiological investigation into the basis of the interaction of opioids and rIFN‐α in brain structures essential for the expression of opioid activities is also presented. Finallu, the effects of rIFN‐α upon the functions of both the CNS and other systems is discussed in terms of the effects reported for other peptides associated with immune responses.