The activation of μ-opioid receptor potentiates LPS-induced NF-kB promoting an inflammatory phenotype in microglia

Increased production of proinflammatory cytokines has a prominent role in tolerance to opioids. The objectives of this study were to examine whether μ-opioid receptor affects proinflammatory signalling through the activation of NF-kB in microglia. The novelty of the described research is that a low dose of morphine, exerting its effects via the μ-opioid receptor, increases the DNA-binding activity of NF-kB via PKCε, while a high dose of morphine triggers a nonopiate receptor response mediated by TLR4 and, interestingly, PKCε signalling. The identification of morphine as a crucial upstream regulator of PKCε-NF-κB signalling in microglia argues for a central role of these pathways in neuroinflammation development and progression. Therefore, the morphine-PKCε-NF-κB pathway may provide novel targets to induce neuroprotective mechanisms, thereby reducing tolerance to opioids.