Decreased immunodensities of μ-opioid receptors, receptor kinases GRK 2/6 and β-arrestin-2 in postmortem brains of opiate addicts

The homologous regulation of opioid receptors, through G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) and β-arrestins, is an initial step in the complex molecular mechanisms leading to opiate tolerance and dependence. This study was designed to evaluate in parallel the contents of immunolabeled μ-opioid...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain research. Molecular brain research. 2004-02, Vol.121 (1), p.114-122
Main Authors: Ferrer-Alcón, Marcel, La Harpe, Romano, Garcı́a-Sevilla, Jesús A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRK2 and GRK6)
Heroin
Methadone
Opiate addiction
Postmortem human brain
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
β-Arrestin-2
μ-Opioid receptor
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Summary:The homologous regulation of opioid receptors, through G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) and β-arrestins, is an initial step in the complex molecular mechanisms leading to opiate tolerance and dependence. This study was designed to evaluate in parallel the contents of immunolabeled μ-opioid receptors (glycosylated proteins), two representative GRKs (GRK 2 and GRK 6) and β-arrestin-2 in brains of opiate addicts who had died of an opiate overdose (heroin or methadone). The immunodensities of μ-opioid receptors were decreased (66 kDa protein: 24%, n=24, P
ISSN:0169-328X
1872-6941
DOI:10.1016/j.molbrainres.2003.11.009