# Hippocampal-dependent neural immune interactions regulate heroin-conditioned immunomodulation

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $37,249

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Negative consequences of heroin use are not limited to those produced by the addictive qualities of the drug.
Heroin and other opioids negatively alter host immunity, leaving users more susceptible to diseases commonly
associated with heroin abuse. These immunomodulatory effects can become conditioned to environmental
stimuli following repeated context-heroin pairings. The presentation of heroin-conditioned stimuli is sufficient to
elicit pronounced suppression of peripheral pro-inflammatory measures in the absence of heroin itself. Through
well-controlled animal models, our laboratory has demonstrated that heroin-conditioned immunomodulation is a
classically conditioned response and follows the principles of learning. Consistently, the context-heroin
association is governed through dorsal hippocampal (DH) processes. Within the DH, we have discovered that
intact neuroimmune signaling is required for the heroin-conditioned peripheral immune response to occur. We
have elegantly shown that both DH interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and its active receptor, IL-1 receptor type 1 (IL-1R1),
critically mediate the expression of heroin-conditioned immunomodulation. To further investigate hippocampal
neuroimmune involvement in this conditioned response, we employed state-of-the-art chemogenetic tools to
selectively manipulate DH astroglial signaling in vivo. Stimulation of astroglial Gi-coupled designer receptors
exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) during the exposure to heroin-conditioned stimuli disrupted
conditioned suppression of peripheral immune measures. Thus, separately, DH IL-1 signaling and astroglial
activity are necessary during presentation of heroin-paired cues to elicit the conditioned immune response.
However, it is presently unknown if there is a mechanistic relationship between DH astroglial activity and IL-1
signaling in this Pavlovian response. There is evidence to suggest hippocampal astroglia support mechanisms
of learning and memory through both IL-1β and IL-1R1. The current proposal is a targeted approach to
investigate the relationship between DH astroglia and IL-1 signaling in heroin-conditioned immunomodulation.
The specific aims test the overarching hypothesis that DH astroglia are a critical component of the IL-1 signaling
necessary for heroin-conditioned immunomodulation. Aim 1 will examine astroglial-specific alterations in IL-1β
and IL-1R1 mRNA and protein as a consequence of exposure to heroin-conditioned stimuli. Aim 2 will employ
chemogenetic tools to selectively stimulate DH astroglial Gi-signaling during presentation of these heroin-paired
cues to determine if this in vivo manipulation attenuates the IL-1β and IL-1R1 expression required for heroin-
conditioned immunomodulation to occur. Collectively, the purposed experiments will enhance our understanding
of critical neuroimmune mechanisms governing heroin-conditioned responses and will provide a valuable training
opportunity to foster indepen...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9938312
- **Project number:** 5F31DA047054-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Jacqueline Elizabeth Paniccia
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $37,249
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-06-01 → 2021-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9938312

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9938312, Hippocampal-dependent neural immune interactions regulate heroin-conditioned immunomodulation (5F31DA047054-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9938312. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*