N-methyl-D-aspartate and sigma-ligands change the production of interleukins 8 and 10 in lymphocytes through modulation of the NMDA glutamate receptor.

Human T lymphocytes express both ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors that control immune responses, cell activation, maturation and death. In this study, we examined the effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and sigma1-receptor ligands on the secretion of the proinflammatory chemokine interleukin 8 (IL-8) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) in human leukemia Jurkat cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). We have shown that NMDA increased IL-8 and decreased IL-10 secretion and that sigma-ligands modulated the action of NMDA.