Expression of functional mu-opioid receptors during T cell development.
We have examined the chemotactic responsiveness of thymocytes to selective mu-, kappa-, and delta-opioid agonists. Our results show that developing T cells migrate in response to mu-, but not kappa- or delta-opioids. The mu-opioid response appears to be dependent on the classical mu-opioid receptor (MOR-1) since the chemotactic response is blocked by a selective mu-opioid antagonist, and is absent in thymocytes from MOR-1-deficient mice. Flow cytometric analysis of the mu-opioid responsive cells shows that these cells consist predominantly of highly immature CD4- CD8- T cells. These results represent the first demonstration of the functional expression of mu-opioid receptors by developing T cells.
McCarthy
L
L
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, 3400 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
Szabo
I
I
Nitsche
J F
JF
Pintar
J E
JE
Rogers
T J
TJ
D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer / Q000494:pharmacology; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / Q000494:pharmacology; D020881:Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)- / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; C404943:Oprm protein, mouse; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D020881:Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-