Detection of kappa-opioid receptor mRNA in immature T cells.
The R1.1 cell line has been shown to express kappa-opioid receptors on the cell surface. Our analysis shows that the R1.1 cell line exhibits a CD4NEG CD8NEG CD3LOW CD25LOW cell surface phenotype, characteristic of thymocytes in one of the early stages of differentiation. We have developed reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) conditions that permit the detection of mRNA coding for the kappa-receptor. Using cell fractionation techniques we have isolated CD4NEG CD8NEG thymocytes, and analysis by RT-PCR shows that these primary immature thymocytes also express the kappa-opioid receptor. We hypothesize that the expression of kappa-opioid receptor may be a marker which is characteristic of immature T development.
Belkowski
S M
SM
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
Zhu
J
J
Liu-Chen
L Y
LY
Eisenstein
T K
TK
Adler
M W
MW
Rogers
T J
TJ
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase