title: Subcellular pathways of beta-endorphin synthesis, processing, and release from immunocytes in inflammatory pain.
abstract: The opioid peptide beta-endorphin (END) as well as mRNA for its precursor proopiomelanocortin (POMC) are found not only in the pituitary gland, but also within various types of immune cells infiltrating inflamed sc tissue. During stressful stimuli END is released and interacts with peripheral opioid receptors to inhibit pain. However, the subcellular pathways of POMC processing and END release have not yet been delineated in inflammatory cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the presence of POMC, carboxypeptidase E, the prohormone convertases 1 (PC1), and 2 (PC2), PC2-binding protein 7B2, and the release of END from inflammatory cells in rats. Using immunohistochemistry we detected END and POMC alone or colocalized with PC1, PC2, carboxypeptidase E, and 7B2 in macrophages/monocytes, granulocytes, and lymphocytes of the blood and within inflamed sc paw tissue. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that END is localized within secretory granules packed in membranous structures in macrophages, monocytes, granulocytes, and lymphocytes. Finally, END is released by noradrenaline from immune cells in vitro. Taken together, our results indicate that immune cells express the entire machinery required for POMC processing into functionally active peptides such as END and are able to release these peptides from secretory granules.
authors: Klinik für Anaesthesiologie und Operative Intensivmedizin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, D-12200 Berlin, Germany. shaaban.mousa@charite.de
authors: Shaaban A
authors: SA
authors: Mousa
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Shakibaei
authors: Nicolle
authors: N
authors: Sitte
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Schäfer
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Stein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D043423:Carboxypeptidase H / Q000378:metabolism; D005121:Extremities; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010146:Pain / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism*; D045664:Proprotein Convertase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D045706:Proprotein Convertase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D013566:Sympathomimetics; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D043423:Carboxypeptidase H; D045664:Proprotein Convertase 1; D045706:Proprotein Convertase 2; D009638:Norepinephrine