Immune cell expression of GABAA receptors and the effects of diazepam on influenza infection

Abstract Benzodiazepines increase vulnerability to infection through α1 subunit dependent Υ-amino-butyric-type-A (GABA A ) signalling. Immune cell expression of GABA A receptors and the effect of diazepam on influenza infection was investigated. In patients with pneumonia, α1 GABA A subunits were expressed on alveolar macrophages and blood monocytes. In mice, influenza induced dynamic changes in immune cell GABA A subunit expression: α1 subunits decreased on alveolar macrophage, but increased on monocytes, CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. Following influenza viral infection, diazepam delayed weight loss on day 3 but later increased weight loss. Viral load was unaffected but increased bacterial superinfection was noted on day 10.