title: GTPgammaS incorporation in the rat brain: a study on mu-opioid receptors and CXCR4.
abstract: Chemokine and opioid receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors that play important roles in both the central nervous system and the immune system. The long-term goal of our research is to establish whether opioids regulate the activity of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 (one of the major HIV co-receptors) in the brain. In this research, we studied the anatomical distribution of functional receptors in young and adult animals by using the [(35)S]GTPgammaS "binding" assay as an indication of G-protein activation by CXCL12 (the natural CXCR4 ligand) or by mu-opioid agonists. Brain slices or homogenates from Holtzmann rats of different ages (from 2 to 21 days old and adult animals) were treated with CXCL12 (0.001-100 nM), D: -ala2,MePhe4,gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAMGO; 0.0003-10 microM) or morphine (0.0003-10 microM) and then processed for the assay. Our results show stimulation of both mu-OR and CXCR4 in several brain areas, including cortex and hippocampus (p < 0.001); this effect is dose and age dependent, and the magnitude of response varies among different brain regions. Furthermore, AMD3100 (100 ng/ml), a specific CXCR4 antagonist, abolished CXCL12 stimulation in all the brain regions analyzed (p < 0.001). Our findings suggest a similar pattern of expression for mu-OR and CXCR4 in the brain, supporting the possibility of an interaction between the two G-protein-coupled receptors in vivo. This might be relevant to the role of opiates in HIV neuropathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 245 North 15th Street (NCB 8804), Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burbassi
authors.forename: Vincent J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Aloyo
authors.forename: Kenny J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Simansky
authors.forename: Olimpia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Meucci
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000494:pharmacology; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000378:metabolism*; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; C486264:Cxcr4 protein, rat; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D009020:Morphine