Identification of delta- and mu-type opioid receptors on human and murine dendritic cells

• Published in: Journal of neuroimmunology 2001-07, Vol.117 (1), p.68-77
• Main Authors: Makarenkova, Valeria P, Esche, Clemens, Kost, Natalia V, Shurin, Galina V, Rabin, Bruce S, Zozulya, Andrey A, Shurin, Michael R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cells, Cultured; Dendritic cells; Dendritic Cells - chemistry; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Opioid peptides; Opioid receptors; Receptors, Opioid, delta - analysis; Receptors, Opioid, delta - genetics; Receptors, Opioid, delta - physiology; Receptors, Opioid, mu - analysis; Receptors, Opioid, mu - genetics; Receptors, Opioid, mu - physiology; RNA, Messenger - analysis; TNF-α; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0165-5728; 1872-8421
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-5728(01)00313-7

The purpose of this study was to evaluate μ- and δ-opioid receptors (OR) on human and murine dendritic cells (DC). Expression of μ- and δ-OR mRNA on DC was demonstrated by RT-PCR. The immunocytochemical and Western blot analyses revealed the expression of OR protein in DC. Radioreceptor assay demonstrated the specific saturated temperature-dependent binding of [ 3H]-labeled opioid ligand on DC and B max=2.8±0.3 fmol/10 6 cells and K D=4.8±1.0 nM were calculated by a Scatchard analysis. Finally, OR ligands DADLE and DAGO dose-dependently modulated the capacity of DC to induce T cell proliferation in an MLR assay. Importantly, expression of functional OR on DC was significantly increased upon TNF-α-induced DC maturation. Thus, these data suggest a new mechanism of opioid-dependent neuroendocrine immunomodulation.