Picking a (neuroimmune) fight against fragile regulation of addiction

T cells and their derived cytokines have been shown to modulate brain function. In this issue of Cell, Zhu, Yan, and colleagues demonstrate that opioid use impacts the crosstalk between the CNS and the peripheral immune system. Regulatory T cell (Treg)-derived IFN-gamma signaling translates into synaptic weakening in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) to impart withdrawal-induced behavioral dysfunction.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates that opioid use affects the communication between the central nervous system and the peripheral immune system, leading to changes in T cell and cytokine modulation of brain function, and is associated with withdrawal-induced behavioral dysfunction.