Abstract
The existence of receptors for opioid compounds on-cells of the immune system has long been hypothesized, but has been very difficult to demonstrate unequivocally. We have used reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction to obtain cDNA clones from the human MOLT-4 and CEM-3 T-leukemic cell lines which are nearly identical to portions of the δ and κ opioid receptor cDNAs recently isolated from human brain and placenta, respectively. Northern analyses with riboprobes derived from the δ and κ opioid receptor clones indicate these sequences are expressed at low levels in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and in several human lymphoid cell lines. Sequences corresponding to the μ opioid receptor cDNA were not detected in this study. These results suggest that δ and κ opioid receptors may be responsible for mediating some direct effects of opioids in immune cells.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 29-36 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Neuroimmunology |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1996 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Delta opioid receptor
- Human CEM-3 T-leukemic cell line
- Human Molt-4 T-leukemic cell line
- Human peripheral blood lymphocytes
- Kappa opioid receptor
- Northern analysis
- Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology