title: Dynorphin expression, processing and receptors in the alveolar macrophages, cancer cells and bronchial epithelium of lung cancer patients.
abstract: Functional evidence suggests that opioid peptides such as dynorphin are involved in the regulation of airway macrophage functions and of human cancer growth. However, anatomical evidence for components of a putative dynorphin network within lung cancer patients is scarce. Tissue from lung cancer patients was examined immunohistochemically for all components of a local dynorphin (DYN) network. Double immunofluorescence microscopy analysis revealed colocalization of the opioid precursor PDYN with its end-product DYN, and key processing enzymes prohormone convertases 1 and 2 and carboxypeptidase E, as well as the kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) within alveolar macrophages and cancerous cells in varying degrees among patients. Moreover, chromograninA-immunoreactive pulmonary neuroendocrine cells expressing DYN were close to substance P- and KOR-immunoreactive sensory nerves. Our findings give a first hint of a neuroanatomical basis for a peripheral DYN network, conceivably regulating pulmonary, immune and cell-proliferative functions within the human lung, most likely in a paracrine/autocrine fashion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charite Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Shaaban A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mousa
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krajnik
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sobanski
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kowalewski
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bloch-Boguslawska
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zylicz
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schäfer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001980:Bronchi / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D043423:Carboxypeptidase H / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D045664:Proprotein Convertase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D045706:Proprotein Convertase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000378:metabolism*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004745:Enkephalins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011498:Protein Precursors; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D004399:Dynorphins; C033660:preproenkephalin; D043423:Carboxypeptidase H; D045664:Proprotein Convertase 1; D045706:Proprotein Convertase 2