Neuroimmune Effects of Opioid Administration (NOA)

Imaging the Neuroimmune Effects of Acute Opioid Administration

Preclinical research indicates acute opioid administration evokes an immune response in the periphery and brain. Here, we will translate those preclinical findings to healthy human volunteers and quantify the neuroimmune response to a morphine challenge using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with [11C]PBR28.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Drug Effect
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: High Morphine Dose; Drug: Low Morphine Dose

Detailed Description

Subjects will be recruited from the local community via media advertisements, flyers, and word-of-mouth. Interested individuals will undergo a phone screen and in-person medical and psychiatric examination. Up to 20 eligible individuals (see Inclusion/Exclusion criteria) will be invited to participate in this study.

In a single day, subjects will complete behavioral and physiological testing, a [11C]PBR28 PET scan, and report subjective drug effects before and after a morphine challenge. Subjects will complete either a 'High' or 'Low' morphine dose condition (single-blind): 0.07mg/kg i.m. vs. 0.04mg/kg i.m., respectively. To measure the neuroimmune response to morphine, we will use [11C]PBR28 PET imaging (120-minute scans on a High Resolution Research Tomograph with Vicra motion correction). [11C]PBR28 binds with high affinity and specificity to the 18kDa translocator protein (TSPO), which is highly expressed in microglia and has been shown to respond to inflammatory challenges. TSPO volumes of distribution (VT), i.e., TSPO availability, will be quantified in brain regions of interest using multilinear analysis-1 (MA-1) with the metabolite-corrected arterial input function. The post-morphine [11C]PBR28 PET scan will occur 2-hours after the morphine challenge.

Specific Aim 1: To determine whether an acute morphine administration increases brain TSPO availability in healthy volunteers.

Hypothesis 1: Relative to pre-morphine levels, morphine will significantly increase TSPO availability across brain regions of interest, consistent with a neuroimmune response.

Specific Aim 2: To determine whether morphine evokes a dose-dependent increase in brain TSPO availability in healthy volunteers.

Hypothesis 2: Relative to pre-morphine levels, morphine will dose-dependently increase TSPO availability across brain regions of interest.

Specific Aim 3: To determine whether morphine administration increases peripheral markers of inflammation, e.g., cytokine/chemokine concentration in plasma.

Hypothesis 3: Relative to pre-morphine levels, morphine will increase cytokine/chemokine concentrations in plasma, including IL-1B, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-a, IFNy, MCP-1, and GM-CSF, consistent with a peripheral immune response. Exploratory Hypotheses: 1) IL-1B, IL-6, TNF-a, IFNy, MCP-1, and GM-CSF will exhibit morphine dose-dependent increases in plasma. 2) The change in IL-6, TNF-a, IFN-y, and GM-CSF levels will be positively correlated with the change in brain TSPO VT levels.

Specific Aim 4: To determine whether morphine administration alters pain sensitivity, pain tolerance, cognitive function, and reward responsiveness.

Hypothesis 4: Relative to pre-morphine levels, morphine will enhance pain tolerance and impair verbal learning/memory proficiency and impair reward responsiveness. Morphine will not alter pain sensitivity, visual attention, psychomotor processing speed, or working memory proficiency. Exploratory hypotheses: 1) The change in TSPO availability in thalamus will be positively correlated with the change in pain tolerance. 2) The change in TSPO availability in hippocampus will be inversely correlated with the change in verbal learning/memory proficiency. 3) The change in TSPO availability in caudate, ACC, and OFC will be inversely correlated with the change in reward responsiveness.

Specific Aim 5: To determine whether morphine administration alters vital signs.

Hypothesis 5: Relative to pre-morphine levels, morphine will dose-dependently reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Relative to pre-morphine levels, morphine will lower heart rate.

Specific Aim 6: To measure the subjective response to morphine administration.

Hypothesis 6: Relative to pre-morphine levels, morphine will dose-dependently increase subjective ratings of 'high', 'good drug effect', 'nausea', and 'bad drug effect'. Exploratory hypotheses: 1) The change in TSPO availability in caudate, ACC, and OFC will be positively correlated with the change in 'high' and 'good drug effect'. 2) The change in TSPO availability in the insula and thalamus will be positively correlated with the change in 'nausea' and 'bad drug effect'.

Specific Aim 7: To determine whether morphine administration alters peripheral stress markers of the autonomic nervous system and HPA-axis.

Hypothesis 7: Relative to pre-morphine levels, morphine will dose-dependently increase plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol.

Specific Aim 8: To determine whether morphine administration alters peripheral markers of neurosteroids.

Hypothesis 8: Relative to pre-morphine levels, morphine will dose-dependently increase plasma levels of allopregnanolone and pregnenolone.

Specific Aim 9: To determine whether morphine administration alters peripheral markers of the metabolic hormone ghrelin.

Hypothesis 9: Relative to pre-morphine levels, morphine will dose-dependently increase plasma levels of ghrelin.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 10
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Connecticut
    • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06519
      • Cosgrove Lab

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

PBR_Morphine Study

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men and women aged between 21 and 50 years (driver's license or valid state ID).
2. Physically healthy by medical history, physical, neurological, EKG and laboratory examinations (reviewed by the Study Physician).
3. Normal weight, as indicated by a body mass index (BMI) and body weight ≤ 250lbs.
4. Read, comprehend, and write English at a sufficient level to complete study-related materials.
5. Able to provide voluntary and written informed consent.
6. Eligibility and willingness to participate in study procedures, including MRI and PET scanning.
7. Previous medical use of opioids without adverse reactions (≥2 lifetime uses).
8. Medically eligible to receive up to 0.1 mg/kg deltoid intramuscular morphine (based on medical history, medical exams, and not meeting any exclusion criteria below).
9. Medically eligible to receive 10mg of oral metoclopramide based on medical history, medical exams, and current medications.

Exclusion criteria:

1. Any DSM-5 Axis I disorder diagnosis based on Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5), including meeting criteria for substance dependence.
2. Any current psychotropic medication use, including MAOI use within the past 14 days
3. Recent (past 6 months) medical or non-medical opioid-use.
4. Prior medical use prescription opioids for >14 consecutive days (self-report)
5. Prior non-medical use of any opioid (i.e., recreational opioid use will be excluded).
6. Positive result on a urine drug screen (excluding marijuana).
7. Current or previous chronic pain disorder (>6 months of continuous pain).
8. 'Low affinity binding' individuals based on rs6971 polymorphism (<10% of the population).
9. For females, pregnancy (positive urine test).
10. Current use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications or statins.

11. Medical contraindication to receive up to 0.1 mg/kg intramuscular morphine administration as determined by Study Physician. This includes:

    1. known hypersensitivity/allergy to morphine;
    2. acute or severe bronchial asthma;
    3. known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus;
    4. seizure disorder;
    5. concomitant use of a benzodiazepine or any other CNS depressant;
    6. any other significant medical condition, that in the opinion of the Study Physician and Investigators, could: put the patient at risk because of participation in the study, or influence the results of the study, or cause concern about the patient's ability to successfully complete in the study.
12. Known family history (first-degree relative) of opioid-use disorder or alcohol-use disorder.
13. MRI contraindications, including metal in body (or work in metal/machine shop), pacemaker, claustrophobia, or inability to tolerate MRI scanning.

14. Medical contraindications to metoclopramide, as determined by the Study Physician, including:

    1. known hypersensitivity/allergy to metoclopramide;
    2. mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction, perforation, or hemorrhage;
    3. seizure disorder;
    4. history of tardive dyskinesia;
    5. or concomitant use of medications/agents likely to increase extrapyramidal reactions.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: High Morphine Dose; Subjects in this experimental arm will receive a single intramuscular morphine dose (non-dominant deltoid muscle; 0.07 mg/kg).	Drug: High Morphine Dose; Subjects will receive an intramuscular morphine injection (0.07mg/kg) in the non-dominant deltoid muscle. Metoclopramide (10mg; oral) will be administered PRN to reduce nausea.; Other Names: High Dose
Experimental: Low Morphine Dose; Subjects in this experimental arm will receive a single intramuscular morphine dose (non-dominant deltoid muscle; 0.04 mg/kg).	Drug: Low Morphine Dose; Subjects will receive an intramuscular morphine injection (0.04mg/kg) in the non-dominant deltoid muscle. Metoclopramide (10mg; oral) will be administered PRN to reduce nausea.; Other Names: Low Dose

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Brain TSPO availability	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in brain regional TSPO availability (VT) after morphine. VT will be calculated for brain regions of interest using multi-linear analysis 1 (t*=30) using the metabolite-corrected arterial input function.	One 120-minute PET [11C]PBR28 scan before and one PET [11C]PBR28 scan 2hr after morphine challenge.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Verbal Learning Performance	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in verbal learning performance after morphine via the Cogstate computerized task: International Shopping List. In this task, subjects are asked to memorize and recite (without prompt) 12 common grocery shopping items across 3 trials. Number of correct items recalled across the 3 trials is analyzed.	This Cogstate task will be administered twice: once before and once ~40 minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Verbal Memory Performance	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in verbal memory performance after morphine via the Cogstate computerized task: International Shopping List - Delayed Recall. In this task, subjects are asked to recall (after a time delay) the 12 common grocery shopping items from the International Shopping List task. Number of correct items recalled in this one trial is analyzed.	This Cogstate task will be administered twice: once before and once ~70 minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Psychomotor Speed	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in psychomotor speed via the Cogstate computerized task: Detection. In this task, subjects are asked to respond via button press as soon as the playing card on screen flips over. The log10 of the mean latency to respond (ms) is analyzed.	This Cogstate task will be administered twice: once before and once ~45 minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Visual Attention	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in visual attention via the Cogstate computerized task: Identification. In this task, subjects are asked to respond via button press as soon as he/she identifies that the playing card on screen matches the target card color (red). The log10 of the mean latency to respond (ms) is analyzed.	This Cogstate task will be administered twice: once before and once ~50 minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Visual Learning	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in visual learning via the Cogstate computerized task: One Card Learning. In this task, subjects are asked to respond via button press if he/she identifies that the on-screen playing card has been shown previously. The arc sine of the percent correctly identified is analyzed.	This Cogstate task will be administered twice: once before and once ~55 minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Working Memory (easy)	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in working memory performance via the Cogstate computerized task: One Back. In this task, subjects are asked to respond via button press if he/she identifies that the on-screen playing card matches the card shown just prior to the current card. The log10 of the mean latency to respond (ms) is analyzed.	This Cogstate task will be administered twice: once before and once ~60 minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Working Memory (hard)	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in working memory performance via the Cogstate computerized task: Two Back. In this task, subjects are asked to respond via button press if he/she identifies that the on-screen playing card matches the card shown two prior to the current card. The arc sine of the percent correctly identified is analyzed.	This Cogstate task will be administered twice: once before and once ~65 minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Venous Cytokine/Chemokine Concentration	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in venous cytokine and chemokine concentrations (e.g., IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, and IFN-gamma) periodically after morphine via ELISA assay kit.	Plasma samples will be collected 10-minutes before and 60-minutes, 110-minutes, and 250-minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Venous Cortisol Concentration	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in venous cortisol levels periodically after morphine via ELISA assay kit.	Plasma samples will be collected 10-minutes before and 60-minutes, 110-minutes, and 250-minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Venous Epinephrine Concentration	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in venous epinephrine levels periodically after morphine via ELISA assay kit.	Plasma samples will be collected 10-minutes before and 60-minutes, 110-minutes, and 250-minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Venous Norepinephrine Concentration	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in venous norepinephrine levels periodically after morphine via ELISA assay kit.	Plasma samples will be collected 10-minutes before and 60-minutes, 110-minutes, and 250-minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Venous Allopregnanolone Concentration	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in venous allopregnanolone levels periodically after morphine via ELISA assay kit.	Plasma samples will be collected 10-minutes before and 60-minutes, 110-minutes, and 250-minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Venous Pregnenolone Concentration	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in venous pregnenolone levels periodically after morphine via ELISA assay kit.	Plasma samples will be collected 10-minutes before and 60-minutes, 110-minutes, and 250-minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Venous Ghrelin Concentration	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in venous ghrelin levels periodically after morphine via ELISA assay kit.	Plasma samples will be collected 10-minutes before and 60-minutes, 110-minutes, and 250-minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Thermal Pain Sensitivity	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in thermal pain sensitivity after morphine via the Cold Pressor Task. Subjects will place their hand in a warm water bath and then a cold water bath. Subjects will be asked to indicate when he/she first experiences pain related to the cold water bath. Time to detection of pain (s) is analyzed.	The Cold Pressor Task will be administered once before and once ~90-minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Thermal Pain Tolerance	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in thermal pain tolerance after morphine via the Cold Pressor Task. Subjects will place their hand in a warm water bath and then a cold water bath. Time to withdrawal his/her hand from the cold water bath (s; max: 90s) is analyzed.	The Cold Pressor Task will be administered once before and once ~90-minutes after the morphine challenge.
Change in Reward Responsiveness	Relative to pre-morphine levels, we will measure the change in reward responsiveness after morphine via the computerized Probabilistic Reward Task. Reward responsiveness is calculated as the subject's propensity to modulate his/her response latency to discriminate two stimuli (short and long mouths on a face) based on prior reinforcement (monetary reward for 'correct' responses). This task allows objective measurement of an individuals' responsiveness to monetary reward.	The Probabilistic Reward Task will be administered once before and once ~260 minutes after morphine.

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in systolic blood pressure	Systolic blood pressure (mmHg; while seated and resting) will be measured periodically before and after morphine.	Blood pressure will be measured 10-minutes before, and 30-minutes, 60-minutes, and 90-minutes after morphine.
Change in diastolic blood pressure	Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg; while seated and resting) will be measured periodically before and after morphine.	Blood pressure will be measured 10-minutes before, and 30-minutes, 60-minutes, and 90-minutes after morphine.
Change in heart rate	Heart rate (beats per minute; while seated and resting) will be measured periodically before and after morphine.	Heart rate will be measured 10-minutes before, and 30-minutes, 60-minutes, and 90-minutes after morphine.
Change in subjective drug effects	Morphine drug effects are measured via visual analogue scale (VAS 0-100mm) for the following adjectives: 'high', 'nauseous', 'good effect', 'bad effect' and 'any effect'.	Subjective drug effects measured 10-minutes before, and 30-minutes, 60-minutes, and 90-minutes after morphine.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Yale University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Eric Woodcock, PhD, Yale University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 12, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 10, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): March 10, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 8, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 10, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): January 11, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 27, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2021
• Last Verified: April 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: PET Imaging; Morphine; Neuroimmune System; TSPO
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Central Nervous System Depressants; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Analgesics, Opioid; Narcotics; Morphine
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2000024785

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: De-identified participant data will be shared upon reasonable request.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Study supporting information will be available upon reasonable request after publication of the primary manuscript.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Available to research scientists and clinicians for academic uses only.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No