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Peripheral analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of opioids — neuro-immune crosstalk

  • Chapter
Mind over Matter - Regulation of Peripheral Inflammation by the CNS

Part of the book series: Progress in Inflammation Research ((PIR))

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Abstract

Opioids are the most powerful drugs for the treatment of severe acute and chronic pain. However, their widespread use has been hampered by side effects such as depression of breathing, nausea, clouding of consciousness, constipation, addiction and tolerance [1]. A new generation of opioid drugs is now underway. This new class selectively activates opioid receptors outside the central nervous system, thus avoiding all centrally-mediated unwanted effects while exerting potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory actions [2,3]. In addition, endogenous ligands at peripheral opioid receptors are produced within immune cells and such immune-derived opioids can inhibit pain [4]. This heralds an entirely new field, the selective targeting of opioid peptide-containing cells to sites of painful tissue injury and the augmentation of opioid synthesis by gene transfer. These novel concepts of pain control and anti-inflammatory actions open exciting prospects for future therapeutic approaches.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik für Anaesthesiologie und operative Intensivmedizin, Klinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, Berlin, D-12200, Germany

    Halina Machelska & Christoph Stein

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  1. Halina Machelska
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  2. Christoph Stein
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  1. Campus Benjamin Franklin Klinik für Anästhesiologie und operative Intensivmedizin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, Berlin, 12200, Germany

    Michael Schäfer  & Christoph Stein  & 

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Machelska, H., Stein, C. (2003). Peripheral analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of opioids — neuro-immune crosstalk. In: Schäfer, M., Stein, C. (eds) Mind over Matter - Regulation of Peripheral Inflammation by the CNS. Progress in Inflammation Research. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8039-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8039-8_9

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-9416-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-8039-8

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