title: Antisense inhibition of pro-opiomelanocortin and proenkephalin A messenger RNA translation alters rat immune cell function in vitro.
abstract: Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and proenkephalin A (PEA) antisense oligodeoxynucleotides respectively reduced and enhanced proliferation of rat splenocytes incubated with concanavalin A in vitro. Nonsense base sequences used as controls were without effect. Coincubation with the exogenous synthetic opioid peptides, ACTH, beta-endorphin, met-enkephalin or [D-ala,D-leu]-enkephalin did not significantly alter either the POMC or PEA antisense response, indicating potential differences in bioactivity of immunocyte opioid peptides compared with synthetic equivalents. Levels of the POMC opioid products, ACTH and beta-endorphin, were significantly reduced in splenocytes incubated with POMC antisense probes. These data provide evidence for functional effects of endogenous opioid peptides on rat splenocyte proliferation in vitro.
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol Research Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Marlborough Street, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fulford
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Harbuz
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Jessop
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000235:genetics*; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000235:genetics*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C029992:proenkephalin; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone