Novel orphanin FQ/nociceptin transcripts are expressed in human immune cells

• Published in: Journal of neuroimmunology 2002-09, Vol.130 (1), p.100-108
• Main Authors: Arjomand, Jamshid, Cole, Steve, Evans, Chris J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative splicing; Alternative Splicing - genetics; Amino Acid Sequence - genetics; Antigens, CD19 - genetics; Antigens, CD19 - immunology; B lymphocytes; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Base Sequence - genetics; Cell Culture Techniques; Gene Expression - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation - immunology; Humans; Lymphocytes - cytology; Lymphocytes - immunology; Molecular Sequence Data; Nociceptin; Nociceptin Receptor; NOP; Opioid Peptides - genetics; ORL-1; Orphanin FQ; Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics; Receptors, Opioid - genetics; RNA Splice Sites - genetics; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Spleen - cytology; Spleen - immunology; Transcriptional Activation - genetics
• ISSN: 0165-5728; 1872-8421
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-5728(02)00217-5

The opioid-like receptor (NOP) is widely expressed throughout the human immune system. Here, we report that human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) express transcripts encoding the NOP receptor agonist, orphanin FQ/nociceptin (OFQ/N). OFQ/N transcripts in resting PBLs were restricted to CD19+B cells and contained a novel 5′ exon (ImEx2b), replacing exons 1 and 2 found in neuronal transcripts. Translation of ImEx2b-containing transcripts resulted in truncated OFQ/N precursors lacking a classical signal peptide. Mitogen activation of PBLs dramatically up-regulated neuronal-like transcripts, predominantly in CD3+T cells. Overall, this suggests different promoters direct specific OFQ/N transcript expression in immune cells.