title: Orphanin FQ/nociceptin interactions with the immune system in vivo: gene expression changes in lymphoid organs and regulation of the cytokine response to staphylococcal enterotoxin A.
abstract: Orphanin FQ/nociceptin (OFQ/N) is a neuropeptide implicated in immunomodulation. Here, we show that endogenous and exogenous OFQ/N modulated the cytokine response to the bacterial superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA). Specifically, OFQ/N enhanced TNFalpha and IFNgamma transcripts in the spleen when injected prior to SEA challenge. Moreover, mice lacking the OFQ/N precursor gene showed diminished TNFalpha and IFNgamma mRNA induction in the spleen following SEA challenge. In addition, mRNA levels of ppOFQ/N and the OFQ/N receptor, NOP, were altered in thymus and spleen after SEA challenge. Overall, this suggests that the OFQ/N system can influence immune function and is itself influenced by immune stimuli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goldfarb
authors.forename: Rainer K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Reinscheid
authors.forename: Alexander W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kusnecov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000235:genetics; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000094942:Nociceptin Receptor; D000097629:Nociceptin
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004768:Enterotoxins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D018847:Opioid Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000094942:Nociceptin Receptor; D000097629:Nociceptin; C026066:enterotoxin A, Staphylococcal; C000722287:Oprl1 protein, mouse