The regulation of delta-opiate receptor density on 108CC15 neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells

The delta opioid receptor tool box

In recent years, the delta opioid receptor has attracted increasing interest as a target for the treatment of chronic pain and emotional disorders. Due to their therapeutic potential, numerous tools have been developed to study the delta opioid receptor from both a molecular and a functional perspective. This review summarizes the most commonly available tools, with an emphasis on their use and limitations. Here, we describe (1) the cell-based assays used to study the delta opioid receptor. (2) The features of several delta opioid receptor ligands, including peptide and non-peptide drugs. (3) The existing approaches to detect delta opioid receptors in fixed tissue, and debates that surround these techniques. (4) Behavioral assays used to study the in vivo effects of delta opioid receptor agonists; including locomotor stimulation and convulsions that are induced by some ligands, but not others. (5) The characterization of genetically modified mice used specifically to study the delta opioid receptor. Overall, this review aims to provide a guideline for the use of these tools with the final goal of increasing our understanding of delta opioid receptor physiology.

Numerical density of delta-opioid receptor expressing neurons in the frontal cortex of drug-related fatalities

In animal experiment and in cell culture, chronic morphine treatment has been followed by a reduction as well as an increase of the delta-opioid receptor (OR) number. The present postmortem morphometric study of morphine-related fatalities of drug addicts (n=12, 22-35 years old, with blood unconjugated morphine levels from 27.1 to 407 ng/ml, m.v. 176.9 ng/ml) versus a non-addicted control group (n=13, 10-44 years old) is intended to examine whether chronic opiate exposure also affects the numerical density of deltaOR expressing neurons in the human neocortex (area 10 according to Brodmann (Vergleichende Lokalisationslehre der Grosshirnrinde (1909) Johann Ambrosius Barth, Leipzig)). For the immunohistochemical procedure, vibratome sections (100 microm) were incubated with a monoclonal antibody against the deltaOR diluted 1:100, and immunoreactive sites were visualized using an immunoperoxidase protocol. The numerical densities of OR expressing and Nissl-stained neurons were assessed morphometrically (camera lucida drawings). In both collectives, the anti deltaOR immunoreactivity was predominantly localized in pyramidal neurons of layers (L) II/III and V as well as in round and ovoid neurons of L VI. In the drug-related fatalities, the density of neurons expressing deltaOR protein amounted for 2515+/-240/mm(3), in the control group for 2616+/-204/mm(3), thus displaying no statistically significant difference. These findings go along with the binding behavior of opioid ligands in postmortem brains of heroin addicts revealing similar receptor densities and affinities in the control subjects and addicts.

Down-regulation of 3H-lofentanil binding to opiate receptors in different cultured neuronal cells

There was stereospecific binding of 3H-lofentanil (KD value = 1.53 nM) to membranes of neuroblastoma-glioma NG 108-15 cells which are known to bear high affinity binding sites for enkephalin derivatives (delta-opiate receptor subtype). There was no high affinity specific binding of the mu-opiate specific ligand 3H-sufentanil. The specific binding of 3H-lofentanil to delta-opiate receptor subtype was down-regulated (decrease in Bmax value without change in the KD value) after prolonged incubation of the cells in the presence of leu- and met- enkephalin (0.1 microM). There was no down-regulation of the opiate receptors (3H-lofentanil and 3H-D-ala-D-leu-enkephalin specific binding) after incubation of NG 108-15 cells with drugs from the fentanyl series (alfentanil or sufentanil). In cultured neurones from rat forebrain (15 day old embryos), the 3H-lofentanil binding was specific with high affinity (KD: 0.048 nM) and a slow dissociation rate similar to that in adult rat cortex. Drugs of the fentanyl series (4-anilino-piperidines) were potent displacers whereas agonists of the delta- (enkephalin derivatives), sigma- (phencyclidine, haloperidol, 3-hydroxyphenyl-propylpiperidine) or K- (U 50488) opiate sites had a low affinity (Ki greater than 0.5 microM) for 3H-lofentanil specific binding sites. Since there was also specific binding of 3H-sufentanil, the opiate receptors in cultured neurones seem to be mainly of the mu-subtype and this is consistent with the ontogeny of opiate receptors subtypes. These receptors were down-regulated after incubation in the presence of etorphine, sufentanil and alfentanil but not enkephalin derivatives.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chronic exposure to opiate agonists increases proenkephalin biosynthesis in NG108 cells

The neuroblastoma-glioma NG108 cell line has been shown to contain both a delta-opiate receptor and enkephalin peptides. In this paper, the presence of authentic proenkephalin mRNA and proenkephalin-derived peptides are demonstrated. Growth of the cells in the presence of etorphine for 5-7 days resulted in a 3-fold increase of proenkephalin mRNA, which was accompanied by comparable increases in proenkephalin peptides and free enkephalin. The effect was mimicked by either morphine or [D-Ala2,D-Met5]enkephalinamide, and was blocked by naloxone. The EC50 for the effect of etorphine was 10(-9) M. The cyclic AMP content of cells grown for 5 days in the presence of etorphine was the same as that of control cells. Forskolin treatment also increased the proenkephalin mRNA content of the cells: the effect was not additive with that of etorphine, suggesting that the effect of opiate agonists was not occurring through their inhibition of adenylate cyclase. The results suggest that proenkephalin synthesis in NG108 cells can be regulated by two different mechanisms, one involving cyclic AMP while the other, regulated by the opiate receptor, is yet to be determined.

The effects of long-term treatment of NG108-15 cells with penta- and tetrapeptide enkephalin dimers on opioid receptor binding and cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels

1. The effects of chronic treatment with a dimeric or monomeric penta- or tetrapeptide enkephalin analogue on binding and cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation in NG108-15 cells have been studied. 2. When the cells were cultured in the presence of 1 mumol of a pentapeptide analogue (dimer or monomer) for up to 96 hr, binding was reduced by greater than or equal to 90%. 3. In contrast, in the presence of 1 mumol of a tetrapeptide analogue (dimer or monomer), binding was reduced by only less than or equal to 30%. 4. The analogues had varying effects on regulation of cAMP formation. Desensitization, indicated by impaired opioid-mediated inhibition of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-stimulated cAMP accumulation, was clearly apparent only for cells pretreated with [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE), while cells pretreated with [D-Ala2,Leu5-NH-CH2-]2 (DPE2) showed minor impairment. 5. Thus, ligand dimerization appeared to have a modulating effect on regulation of adenylate cyclase activity but not to affect opioid-induced down-regulation.

Down regulation of opiate receptors on 108CC15 hybrid cells is inhibited by receptor occupancy

This study reports on the molecular mechanism of delta-opiate receptor down regulation on 108CC15 neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells. The down regulation induced by culture in the presence of 10(-5) M 2-D-Ala, 5-D-Leu-enkephalin (DADLE) can be prevented by continued exposure to ligand concentrations greater than 4 nM, the Kd of the binding site. Below this concentration, down regulation is a rapid and irreversible process. It is deduced that the internalization process in this cell line is initiated when unoccupied receptor dimers are present. These results have important implications for down regulation studies using cultured cell lines and studies of receptor regulation in vivo after chronic treatment with neuroactive drugs.