Evidence for a delta-class opioid receptor on cells of the immune system.
Opioid receptors have been reported to be present on cells of the immune system. Both opioid receptor-ligand interactions which are reversible by naloxone (classical) and those interactions which are irreversible by naloxone (nonclassical) appear to alter various immunologic parameters through the ligand-receptor interactions. In an effort to characterize opioid receptors (which operate with classical interactions) on cells of the immune system, we employed the delta-class opioid receptor-specific ligand, cis-(+)-3-methylfentanylisothiocyanate (SUPERFIT). We herein report the specific labeling of a protein with a molecular weight of 70,000 Da under reducing conditions (58,000 Da under nonreducing conditions) from both B and T cell-enriched murine splenocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes. Similar results are demonstrated by human peripheral blood lymphocytes and plastic-adherent (monocyte-enriched) leukocytes.
Carr
D J
DJ
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
Kim
C H
CH
deCosta
B
B
Jacobson
A E
AE
Rice
K C
KC
Blalock
J E
JE
D000818:Animals; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000032:analysis*; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D008024:Ligands; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; C046222:3-methylfentanyl isothiocyanate; D005283:Fentanyl