The morphine-binding site on human activated T-cells is not related to the mu opioid receptor.
Mitogen activation of human T-lymphocytes induces a morphine-binding site. Morphine binding is displaceable by beta-endorphin (1--31) and (--)-naloxone but not DAMGO. This site is not stereoselective for (--)-morphine. T-lymphocytes, expressing this binding site, were assayed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for expression of hMOR-1 mRNA. Several primer sets were used and each assay compared with cells known to express human or mouse MOR-1 mRNA. Neither hMOR-1 nor any homologous receptor was detected in human T-lymphocytes. Therefore, the morphine-binding site on mitogen-activated T-lymphocytes is unlikely to be closely related to hMOR-1.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory West Campus, 1256 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30306, USA. jmadden@emory.edu
J J
JJ
Madden
W L
WL
Whaley
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Ketelsen
R M
RM
Donahoe
D001665:Binding Sites / Q000502:physiology; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009020:Morphine / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D017931:DNA Primers; D007376:Interleukin-2; D009294:Narcotics; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D009020:Morphine; D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium