title: A novel insight into neuroprotection against hypoxic/ischemic stress.
abstract: The use of opioid analgesics has a long history in clinical settings, although the functions of opioid receptors, especially their role in the brain, are not well understood yet. Recent studies have generated abundant new data on opioid receptor-mediated functions and the underlying mechanisms. The most exciting finding in the past decade is probably the neuroprotection against hypoxic/ischemic stress mediated by delta-opioid receptors (DOR). An up-regulation of DOR expression and the release of endogenous opioids may increase neuronal tolerance to hypoxic/ischemic stress. The DOR signal triggers, depending on stress duration and severity, different mechanisms at multiple levels to preserve neuronal survival, including the stabilization of ionic homeostasis, an increase in pro-survival signaling (e.g., PKC-ERK-Bcl 2) and the enhanced anti-oxidative capacity. Recent data on DOR-mediated neuroprotection provide us a new concept of neuroprotection against neurological disorders and have a potentially significant impact on the prevention and treatment of some serious neurological conditions, such as stroke.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Dongman
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Xiaozhou
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yilin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xuezhi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: H Lazarus
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta