Results and prospects of research of interaction between sensory and immune systems in addictive disorders

The publication summarizes the results of the work of the team in recent years and is devoted to the mechanisms of interaction between sensory and immune systems in the formation of dependence on psychoactive substances. Materials and Methods. 610 persons were examined: addicts (n=232), episodic users (n=120) and control group (n=258). Clinical anamnestic, psychometric and laboratory methods were used: enzyme immunoassay, cytofluorimetry, polymerase chain reaction. Psychophysiological methods were based on olfactometry and algometry, and neurophysiological methods were based on electroencephalography. Results. The study revealed markers of addictive disorders: decreased alpha rhythm during the thymol olfactory stimulation with changing emotional evaluation of odorant, decreased production of IFN-gamma, decreased pain sensitivity. The peculiarities of sensory and immune shifts depending on the spectrum of used substance and a disease stage were found. Reduction in beta rhythm during the isopropanol olfactory stimulation, decreased production of IFN-gamma, IL-1RA, TNF-alpha and increase testosterone levels were found in opioid-dependent persons. The obtained data confirm participation of nociception, olfaction and production of cytokines having an interrelated genetic basis in the pathogenesis of addictions. Conclusion. The assumed systemic pathology of chemoreception in addictive disorders acquires more and more real features. Regardless of the degree of participation of immunological and sensory mechanisms in the formation of addictive behavior, it is possible to successfully construct diagnostic and prognostic models in the field of biological and clinical addiction psychiatry. New types of therapy and prevention of addictive disorders can be associated with progress in the study of chemosensory mechanisms of human pathology and compensatory neurogenesis.