Original Articles

Evidence for mu opioid receptor on mouse spleen lymphocytes.

Tong Wu, Xiao-yu Li

Abstract

AIM:
Using ohmefentanyl (Ohm), a high affinity mu opioid receptor agonist, to find whether mu opioid receptor exists on mouse spleen lymphocytes.
METHODS:
The proliferation rates of T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes were determined under various concentrations of Ohm with or without naloxone(Nal) in vitro. Binding characteristics of [3H] Ohm with mice spleen lymphocytes were studied by radioligand assays.
RESULTS:
Ohm 0.1 pmol.L(-1)-1 nmol.L-1 enhanced Con A-induced spleen T-cell proliferation in vitro. Nal 50 mumol.L-1, which per se enhanced the T-cell proliferation, blocked the enhancing effects of Ohm. However, Ohm had no effect on B-cell proliferation. Furthermore, a satisfactory saturable, specific, and reversible binding was demonstrated with Kd of (6.9 +/- 0.6) nmol.L-1, Bmax of (74 +/- 6) fmol/10(7) cells. The binding of [3H] Ohm was blocked by unlabeled Ohm or Nal.
CONCLUSION:
Stimulating effects of Ohm on lymphocytes were mediated by opioid receptors. Mouse spleen lymphocytes present mu opioid receptors.
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