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García-Domínguez M. Enkephalins and Pain Modulation: Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Perspectives. Biomolecules 2024; 14:926. [PMID: 39199314 PMCID: PMC11353043 DOI: 10.3390/biom14080926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Enkephalins, a subclass of endogenous opioid peptides, play a pivotal role in pain modulation. Enkephalins primarily exert their effects through opioid receptors located widely throughout both the central and peripheral nervous systems. This review will explore the mechanisms by which enkephalins produce analgesia, emotional regulation, neuroprotection, and other physiological effects. Furthermore, this review will analyze the involvement of enkephalins in the modulation of different pathologies characterized by severe pain. Understanding the complex role of enkephalins in pain processing provides valuable insight into potential therapeutic strategies for managing pain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario García-Domínguez
- Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
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2
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Li Y, Sun L, Zhou Q, Lee AJ, Wang L, Zhang R, Wang S. Effects of opioid drugs on immune function in cancer patients. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116665. [PMID: 38701564 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Opioid receptor agonists are often used when cancer patients undergo surgery or analgesic treatment. As analgesics in clinical care, opioids can provide intraoperative or to chronic cancer pain relief. Immune function plays an important role in anti-cancer therapy, with cellular immunity, comprised principally of T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells, representing the primary anti-cancer immune response. However, it remains unclear whether immune function is further affected with the use of opioids in already immunocompromised cancer patients. This article provides a review of the effects of commonly used clinical opioids, including morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl and tramadol, on immune function in cancer patients. It provides a summary of current evidence regarding the immunomodulatory effects of opioids in the cancer setting and mechanisms underlying these interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunqi Li
- School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Lina Sun
- School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China.
| | - Qinglian Zhou
- School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - An Jie Lee
- Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Lingyan Wang
- School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China.
| | - Shoushi Wang
- Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Hospital, Qingdao 266042, China.
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Qu N, Meng Y, Zhai J, Griffin N, Shan Y, Gao Y, Shan F. Methionine enkephalin inhibited cervical cancer migration as well as invasion and activated CD11b + NCR1 + NKs of tumor microenvironment. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 124:110967. [PMID: 37741126 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
This study was to study the role of methionine enkephalin (menk) in cell invasion and migration as well as NK cells activation of tumor microenvironment in cervical cancer. The results showed that menk inhibited cervical cancer migration and invasion. In addition, we found menk affected epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) related indicators, with increasing E-cadherin level, decreasing N-cadherin and vimentin level. Through in vivo mouse model, we found that menk IFNγ and NKP46 expression was upregulated in tumor tissues by menk compared with controls, while LAG3 expression was inhibited by menk, besides, there was an upregulation of CD11b+ NCR1+ NKs of tumor microenvironment in cervical cancer. Therefore, we concluded that menk inhibited cancer migration and invasion via affecting EMT related indicators and activated CD11b+ NCR1+ NKs of tumor microenvironment in cervical cancer, laying a theoretical foundation for the further clinical treatment of menk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Qu
- Department of Gynecological Radiotherapy Ward, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology (Liaoning Cancer Institute and Hospital), No. 44, Xiaoheyan Road, Shenyang 110042, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yiming Meng
- Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology (Liaoning Cancer Institute and Hospital), No. 44, Xiaoheyan Road, Shenyang 110042, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Jingbo Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Zoonose Prevention and Control at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Medical College, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao 028000, China
| | - Noreen Griffin
- Biostax Inc. 1317 Edgewater Dr., Ste 4882, Orlando, FL 32804, USA
| | - Yuanye Shan
- Biostax Inc. 1317 Edgewater Dr., Ste 4882, Orlando, FL 32804, USA
| | - Yuhua Gao
- Department of Gynecological Radiotherapy Ward, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology (Liaoning Cancer Institute and Hospital), No. 44, Xiaoheyan Road, Shenyang 110042, Liaoning Province, China.
| | - Fengping Shan
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, No. 77, Puhe Road, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning Province, China.
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Apryatin SA, Traktirov DS, Karpenko MN, Ivleva IS, Pestereva NS, Bolshakova MV, Trofimov AN, Fesenko ZS, Klimenko VM. Antioxidant system alterations and physiological characteristics of neonatal and juvenile DAT-KO rats. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:1651-1661. [PMID: 37394966 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine transporter knockout (DAT-KO) rats represent a valuable rodent model for studying the molecular and phenotypical outcomes of the effects of excessive dopamine accumulation in the synaptic cleft and the prolonged action of dopamine on neurons. Animals with DAT deficiency are characterized by hyperactivity, stereotypy, cognitive deficits, and impairments in behavioral and biochemical indicators. Several key pathophysiological mechanisms are known to be common to psychiatric, neurodegenerative, metabolic, and other diseases. Among these mechanisms, oxidative stress systems play a particularly important role. One of the main antioxidant systems in the brain is glutathione: specifically, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, and catalase play a significant role in the regulation of vital oxidative processes, and their dysfunction has been shown in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases. The current study aimed to analyze the dynamics of the activity levels of glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase in erythrocytes, as well as catalase in the blood plasma, of DAT-deficient, homo- and heterozygous, neonatal and juvenile rats (both male and female). Their behavioral and physiological parameters were evaluated at the age of 1.5 months. For the first time, changes in physiological and biochemical parameters were shown in DAT-KO rats at 1.5 months of postnatal life. The key role of glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, and catalase in the regulation of oxidative stress in DAT-KO rats at the 5th week of life was demonstrated. A positive effect of a slightly increased dopamine level on memory function was shown in DAT-heterozygous animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Apryatin
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, Saint Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - D S Traktirov
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - M N Karpenko
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - I S Ivleva
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - N S Pestereva
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - M V Bolshakova
- Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - A N Trofimov
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Z S Fesenko
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, Saint Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - V M Klimenko
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
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Sánchez ML, Rodríguez FD, Coveñas R. Involvement of the Opioid Peptide Family in Cancer Progression. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1993. [PMID: 37509632 PMCID: PMC10377280 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptides mediate cancer progression favoring the mitogenesis, migration, and invasion of tumor cells, promoting metastasis and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, and facilitating angiogenesis/lymphangiogenesis. Tumor cells overexpress peptide receptors, crucial targets for developing specific treatments against cancer cells using peptide receptor antagonists and promoting apoptosis in tumor cells. Opioids exert an antitumoral effect, whereas others promote tumor growth and metastasis. This review updates the findings regarding the involvement of opioid peptides (enkephalins, endorphins, and dynorphins) in cancer development. Anticancer therapeutic strategies targeting the opioid peptidergic system and the main research lines to be developed regarding the topic reviewed are suggested. There is much to investigate about opioid peptides and cancer: basic information is scarce, incomplete, or absent in many tumors. This knowledge is crucial since promising anticancer strategies could be developed alone or in combination therapies with chemotherapy/radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Lisardo Sánchez
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy of the Peptidergic Systems, Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla and León (INCYL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Francisco D Rodríguez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Group GIR-USAL: BMD (Bases Moleculares del Desarrollo), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rafael Coveñas
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy of the Peptidergic Systems, Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla and León (INCYL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Group GIR-USAL: BMD (Bases Moleculares del Desarrollo), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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Zhang S, Geng J, Shan F, Shan Y, Griffin N, Wu B, Wang X. Methionine enkephalin suppresses lung cancer metastasis by regulating the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages and the distribution of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment and inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 118:110064. [PMID: 36989897 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis is one of the most difficult challenges for clinical lung cancer treatment. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the crucial step of tumor metastasis. Immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), promote cancer cell EMT. In this study, we explored the effect of methionine enkephalin (MENK) on the EMT process in vitro and in vivo, and its influence on TAMs, MDSCs, and associated cytokines in vivo. The results showed that MENK suppressed growth, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells and inhibited the EMT process by interacting with opioid growth factor receptor. MENK reduced the number of M2 macrophages and MDSC infiltration, and downregulated the expression of interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β1 in both primary and metastatic tumors of nude mice. The present findings suggest that MENK is a potential target for suppressing metastasis in lung cancer treatment.
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Li C, Chen Q, Liu Y, Sun Z, Shen Z, Li S, Cha D, Sun C. Methionine enkephalin promotes white fat browning through cAMP/PKA pathway. Life Sci 2022; 312:121189. [PMID: 36396109 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Obesity and its related metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance and fatty liver, have become a serious global public health problem. Previous studies have shown Methionine Enkephalin (MetEnk) has the potential on adipocyte browning, however, its effects on the potential mechanisms of its regulation in browning as well as its improvement in energy metabolic homeostasis remain to be deciphered. MAIN METHODS C57BL/6J male mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity model, and MetEnk was injected subcutaneously to detect changes in the metabolic status of mice, adipocytes and HepG2 cells were also treated with MetEnk, and transcriptomic, metabolomic were used to detect the changes of lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, inflammation and other related factors. KEY FINDINGS We found that MetEnk effectively protected against obesity weight gain in HFD-induced C57BL/6J mice, significantly improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, reduced the expression levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), promoted white fat browning, moreover, using a combination of transcriptomic, metabolomic and inhibitors, it was found that MetEnk improved mitochondrial function, promoted thermogenesis and lipolysis by activating cAMP/PKA pathway in adipocytes, further analysis found that MetEnk also promoted lipolysis and alleviated inflammation through AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway in mice liver and HepG2 cells. SIGNIFICANCE Our study provides profound evidence for the role of MetEnk in improving lipid metabolism disorders. This study provides a mechanical foundation for investigating the potential of MetEnk to improve obesity and its associated metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaowei Li
- Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Qi Chen
- Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yanrong Liu
- Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Zhuwen Sun
- Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Zhentong Shen
- Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Shuhan Li
- Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Dingrui Cha
- Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Chao Sun
- Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
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Wang X, Li S, Yan S, Shan Y, Wang X, Jingbo Z, Wang Y, Shan F, Griffin N, Sun X. Methionine enkephalin inhibits colorectal cancer by remodeling the immune status of the tumor microenvironment. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 111:109125. [PMID: 35988519 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There is evidence that methionine enkephalin (MENK), an opioid peptide, promotes anti-tumor immune responses. In this study, the effect of MENK on colorectal cancer (CRC) and its mechanisms of action were examined in vivo. The intraperitoneal administration of 20 mg/kg MENK effectively inhibited MC38 subcutaneous colorectal tumor growth in mice. MENK inhibited tumor progression by increasing the immunogenicity and recognition of MC38 cells. MENK down-regulated the oncogene Kras and anti-apoptotic Bclxl and Bcl2, suppressed Il1b, Il6, iNOS, and Arg1 (encoding inflammatory cytokines), and increased Il17a and Il10 levels. MENK promoted a tumor suppressive state by decreasing the immune checkpoints Pd-1, Pd-l1, Lag3, Flgl1, and 2b4 in CRC. MENK also altered the immune status of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). It increased the infiltration of M1-type macrophages, CD8+T cells, and CD4+T cells and decreased the proportions of G-MDSCs, M-MDSCs, and M2-type macrophages. MENK accelerated CD4+TEM and CD8+TEM cell activation in the TIME and up-regulated IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17A in CD4+T cells and Granzyme B in CD8+T cells. In addition, analyses of PD-1 and PD-L1 expression indicated that MENK promoted the anti-tumor immune response mediated by effector T cells. Finally, OGFr was up-regulated at the protein and mRNA levels by MENK, and the inhibitory effects of MENK on tumor growth were blocked by NTX, a specific blocker of OGFr. These finding indicate that MENK remodels the TIME in CRC to inhibit tumor progression by binding to OGFr. MENK is a potential therapeutic agent for CRC, especially for improving the efficacy of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China.
| | - Shunlin Li
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Siqi Yan
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Yuanye Shan
- Immune Therapeutics Inc., 2431 Aloma Ave #124 Winter Park, FL 32792, USA
| | - Xiao Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China.
| | - Zhai Jingbo
- Medical College, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao 028000, China; Key Laboratory of Zoonose Prevention and Control at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Tongliao 028000, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Fengping Shan
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China.
| | - Noreen Griffin
- Immune Therapeutics Inc., 2431 Aloma Ave #124 Winter Park, FL 32792, USA
| | - Xun Sun
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China.
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