Opioids and Vitamin C: Known Interactions and Potential for Redox-Signaling Crosstalk
Opioids are among the most widely used classes of pharmacologically active compounds both clinically and recreationally. Beyond their analgesic efficacy via μ opioid receptor (MOR) agonism, a prominent side effect is central respiratory depression, leading to systemic hypoxia and free radical genera...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/11/7/1267 |
| _version_ | 1797407804719366144 |
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| author | Mackenzie Newman Heather Connery Jonathan Boyd |
| author_facet | Mackenzie Newman Heather Connery Jonathan Boyd |
| author_sort | Mackenzie Newman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Opioids are among the most widely used classes of pharmacologically active compounds both clinically and recreationally. Beyond their analgesic efficacy via μ opioid receptor (MOR) agonism, a prominent side effect is central respiratory depression, leading to systemic hypoxia and free radical generation. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid; AA) is an essential antioxidant vitamin and is involved in the recycling of redox cofactors associated with inflammation. While AA has been shown to reduce some of the negative side effects of opioids, the underlying mechanisms have not been explored. The present review seeks to provide a signaling framework under which MOR activation and AA may interact. AA can directly quench reactive oxygen and nitrogen species induced by opioids, yet this activity alone does not sufficiently describe observations. Downstream of MOR activation, confounding effects from AA with STAT3, HIF1α, and NF-κB have the potential to block production of antioxidant proteins such as nitric oxide synthase and superoxide dismutase. Further mechanistic research is necessary to understand the underlying signaling crosstalk of MOR activation and AA in the amelioration of the negative, potentially fatal side effects of opioids. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:46:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eaf9b8a7fbae4fe7b5ae6adf3cd39cbb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:46:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj.art-eaf9b8a7fbae4fe7b5ae6adf3cd39cbb2023-12-03T14:33:40ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212022-06-01117126710.3390/antiox11071267Opioids and Vitamin C: Known Interactions and Potential for Redox-Signaling CrosstalkMackenzie Newman0Heather Connery1Jonathan Boyd2Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USADepartment of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USADepartment of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USAOpioids are among the most widely used classes of pharmacologically active compounds both clinically and recreationally. Beyond their analgesic efficacy via μ opioid receptor (MOR) agonism, a prominent side effect is central respiratory depression, leading to systemic hypoxia and free radical generation. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid; AA) is an essential antioxidant vitamin and is involved in the recycling of redox cofactors associated with inflammation. While AA has been shown to reduce some of the negative side effects of opioids, the underlying mechanisms have not been explored. The present review seeks to provide a signaling framework under which MOR activation and AA may interact. AA can directly quench reactive oxygen and nitrogen species induced by opioids, yet this activity alone does not sufficiently describe observations. Downstream of MOR activation, confounding effects from AA with STAT3, HIF1α, and NF-κB have the potential to block production of antioxidant proteins such as nitric oxide synthase and superoxide dismutase. Further mechanistic research is necessary to understand the underlying signaling crosstalk of MOR activation and AA in the amelioration of the negative, potentially fatal side effects of opioids.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/11/7/1267vitamin Copioidsmu opioid receptoroxidative stresssignalingmetabolism |
| spellingShingle | Mackenzie Newman Heather Connery Jonathan Boyd Opioids and Vitamin C: Known Interactions and Potential for Redox-Signaling Crosstalk Antioxidants vitamin C opioids mu opioid receptor oxidative stress signaling metabolism |
| title | Opioids and Vitamin C: Known Interactions and Potential for Redox-Signaling Crosstalk |
| title_full | Opioids and Vitamin C: Known Interactions and Potential for Redox-Signaling Crosstalk |
| title_fullStr | Opioids and Vitamin C: Known Interactions and Potential for Redox-Signaling Crosstalk |
| title_full_unstemmed | Opioids and Vitamin C: Known Interactions and Potential for Redox-Signaling Crosstalk |
| title_short | Opioids and Vitamin C: Known Interactions and Potential for Redox-Signaling Crosstalk |
| title_sort | opioids and vitamin c known interactions and potential for redox signaling crosstalk |
| topic | vitamin C opioids mu opioid receptor oxidative stress signaling metabolism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/11/7/1267 |
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