title: Mu3 opiate receptor expression in lung and lung carcinoma: ligand binding and coupling to nitric oxide release.
abstract: The mu3 opiate receptor subtype is expressed in human surgical specimens of both normal lung and non-small-cell lung carcinoma. Nitric oxide (NO) release is mediated through the mu3 receptor, and in lung carcinoma, morphine-stimulated NO release is significantly higher and prolonged than in normal lung. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern blot analysis we show that specific mu opioid receptor transcripts are present in lung carcinoma and other cells with the mu3 profile. Our findings identify a unique role for the mu3 opiate receptor in opiate-mediated NO release and suggest that endogenous opiates, through their release of NO, may play a role in cancer progression.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, 11568, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fimiani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arcuri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoni
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rialas
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Bilfinger
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salzet
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Stefano
mesh_terms: D004090:Dihydromorphine / Q000378:metabolism; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D004090:Dihydromorphine