Endogenous morphine/nitric oxide-coupled regulation of cellular physiology and gene expression: Implications for cancer biology

Abstract Cancer is a simplistic, yet complicated, process that promotes uncontrolled growth. In this regard, this unconstrained proliferation may represent primitive phenomena whereby cellular regulation is suspended or compromised. Given the new empirical evidence for a morphinergic presence and it...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Seminars in cancer biology 2008-06, Vol.18 (3), p.199-210
Main Authors: Stefano, George B, Kream, Richard M, Mantione, Kirk J, Sheehan, Melinda, Cadet, Patrick, Zhu, Wei, Bilfinger, Thomas V, Esch, Tobias
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biology
Cancer
Cell Physiological Phenomena
Endogenous morphine
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine
Humans
Morphine - metabolism
Neoplasms - genetics
Neoplasms - metabolism
Neoplasms - pathology
Nitric oxide
Nitric Oxide - metabolism
Stem cell
μ 3 Opiate receptor
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Cancer is a simplistic, yet complicated, process that promotes uncontrolled growth. In this regard, this unconstrained proliferation may represent primitive phenomena whereby cellular regulation is suspended or compromised. Given the new empirical evidence for a morphinergic presence and its profound modulatory actions on several cellular processes it is not an overstatement to hypothesize that morphine may represent a key chemical messenger in the process of modulating proliferation of diverse cells. This has been recently demonstrated by the finding of a novel opiate-alkaloid selective receptor subtype in human multilineage progenitor cells (MLPC). Adding to the significance of morphinergic signaling are the findings of its presence in plant, invertebrate and vertebrate cells, which also have been shown to synthesize this messenger as well. Interestingly, we and others have shown that some cancerous tissues contain morphine. Furthermore, in medullary histolytic reticulosis, which is exemplified by cells having hyperactivity, the mu3 (μ3 ) opiate select receptor was not present. Thus, it would appear that morphinergic signaling has inserted itself in many processes taking a long time to evolve, including those regulating the proliferation of cells across diverse phyla.
ISSN:1044-579X
1096-3650
DOI:10.1016/j.semcancer.2007.12.003