Abstract
This study was undertaken to examine the presence of functional nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptors in the immune system. Receptor mRNA signals were detected by RT-PCR in porcine thymus, lymph nodes, spleen and freshly-isolated splenocytes; the distribution of prepro-nociceptin/-orphanin FQ (PP-N/-OFQ) mRNA was similar, with the exception of lymph nodes. However, specific [3H]nociceptin binding sites were not detected in rat or porcine lymphoid tissues, and 0.1-100 nM nociceptin had no effect on forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP concentrations in porcine splenocytes. Thus, it appears that nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor mRNA, but not a functional receptor protein is expressed in the immune system.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1865-1870 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Peptides |
Volume | 21 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2000 |
Keywords
- Intestine
- Pig
- Rat
- Spleen
- mRNA-protein mismatch