Regulation of various genes in human leukocytes acutely exposed to morphine: expression microarray analysis.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies from our laboratory have identified a novel mu opiate receptor micro(3), which is expressed in several different cell types and tissues including human vascular endothelial cells, leukocytes and neural tissues. This novel micro receptor is selective for the opiate alkaloid morphine, since this receptor does not bind other opioid peptides.


METHODS
This report details the acute affects of morphine exposure (1 microg/ml) to human leukocytes by analyzing gene expression using microarrays (Applied Biosystems). Robust estimation of the median fold change was used to identify candidates for significantly differentially expressed genes. An independent experiment using four same sample arrays was used to test the algorithm and to confirm the calculated percentage of falsely significant genes.


RESULTS
Data obtained from this study demonstrate that acute morphine exposure differentially affected genes that are involved in immune function, signal transduction, cell adhesion, and apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute morphine exposure to human leukocytes results in specific and significant alterations in gene expression.
Stefano
George B
GB
Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, 11568, USA. gstefano@sunynri.org
Burrill
John D
JD
Labur
Sergei
S
Blake
Julie
J
Cadet
Patrick
P
D000465:Algorithms; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
D007376:Interleukin-2; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009020:Morphine