Novel orphanin FQ/nociceptin transcripts are expressed in human immune cells.
| Title | Novel orphanin FQ/nociceptin transcripts are expressed in human immune cells. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2002 |
| Authors | Arjomand J, Cole S, Evans CJ |
| Journal | J Neuroimmunol |
| Volume | 130 |
| Issue | 1-2 |
| Pagination | 100-8 |
| Date Published | 2002 Sep |
| ISSN | 0165-5728 |
| Keywords | Alternative Splicing, Amino Acid Sequence, Antigens, CD19, B-Lymphocytes, Base Sequence, Cell Culture Techniques, Gene Expression, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Lymphocytes, Molecular Sequence Data, Opioid Peptides, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Receptors, Opioid, RNA Splice Sites, RNA, Messenger, Spleen, Transcriptional Activation |
| Abstract | 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. |
| Alternate Journal | J. Neuroimmunol. |
| PubMed ID | 12225892 |
| Grant List | DA-05010 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States P50 DA005010 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States T32-MH17140 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States |
