title: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells produce pre-pro-nociceptin/orphanin FQ mRNA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) transcribe mRNA for the nonclassical opioid nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptor (NOP). We probed for the N/OFQ precursor, pre-pro-N/OFQ (ppN/OFQ).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using PBMC from 10 healthy volunteers we probed for ppN/OFQ using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based experimental paradigms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In gel-based PCR, we detected amplicons consistent with ppN/OFQ mRNA in all samples. This was confirmed in quantitative real-time PCR with cycle thresholds (representing quantity of mRNA) of 30.91 +/- 0.18 (n = 10).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that PBMCs transcribe ppN/OFQ which, coupled with NOP expression, suggest NOP may be involved in the autoregulation of PBMCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences (Pharmacology and Therapeutics Group), Division of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Management, University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, LE1 5WW, UK.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Rowbotham
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000097629:Nociceptin
chemical_list: D018847:Opioid Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000097629:Nociceptin