| Cocaine abuse not only causes social and psychological problems but is also thought to be linked to some infections. In previous studies, our lab and others have demonstrated that cocaine has a wide spectrum of effects on the immune system of both human and animal models, which provides evidence that cocaine abuse is likely related to the enhancement of risk in microbial invasions. Since macrophages play a crucial role in the immune system, cocaine effects on macrophage functions were studied, including (1) proinflammatory factors, (2) reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) and reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI), and (3) antigen presentation. The importance of intracellular calcium in macrophage functions and the effects of cocaine on macrophage intracellular calcium were also determined. In addition, macrophage adrenoceptor activity was assessed by using antagonists. Our results demonstrate that (1) macrophage proinflammatory factors, TNF-;We conclude that the increase of antigen presentation by cocaine could be attributed to an augmentation in intracellular calcium concentration. However, the effects of cocaine on macrophage secretion may not be mediated by an decrease in macrophage intracellular calcium concentration. Furthermore, the effects of cocaine on macrophage biology is complicated. |
