Properties and functions of human placental opioid system.

Human placental villus tissue contains opioid receptors and peptides. Kappa opioid receptors (the only type present in this tissue) were purified with retention of their binding properties. The purified kappa receptor is a glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 63,000. Two opioid receptor mediated functions were identified in trophoblast tissue, namely regulation of acetylcholine and hormonal (human chorionic gonadotrophin and human placental lactogen) release. Placental content of kappa receptors increases with gestational age. Term placental content of kappa receptors correlates with route of delivery (higher in those abdominally obtained). Opioid use and/or abuse during pregnancy affects placental receptor content at delivery, as well as its mediated functions. Opioid peptides identified in placental extracts were beta-endorphin, methionine enkephalin, leucine enkephalin and dynorphins 1-8 and 1-13. Dynorphin 1-8 seem to be the predominant opioid peptide present in placental villus tissue.     

Target size analysis of opioid receptors. No difference between receptor types, but discrimination between two receptor states

Target size analysis of opioid receptor is complicated by the presence of multi-exponential inactivation curves. Irradiation of intact frozen tissue proved essential to eliminate such artifacts, due to indirect irradiation effects. Upon irradiation condition, opioid binding activity was inactivated in a single mono-exponential manner. Identical inactivation curves were obtained for mu, delta and kappa binding activities in brain membranes from rat, guinea-pig and frog and in NG 108-15 cells: the molecular mass obtained was 98 +/- 2 kDa. However, when opioid binding was assayed in the presence of Na+, Mg2+ and GTP, the molecular mass was found to be only 56 +/- 4.4 kDa. We suggest that the opioid recognition site comprises a unit of 56 kDa and that in the absence of Na+, Mg2+ and GTP an additional membrane component of 40-44 kDa is necessary for high-affinity opioid binding.     

N,N-dialkyl-4-[(8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]-oct-3-ylidene)phenylmethyl]benzamides, potent, selective delta opioid agonists

A series of N,N-dialkyl-4-(9-aryltropanylidenemethyl)benzamides was prepared. The lead compounds, 15a and 15c, exhibited extremely high affinity for the delta opioid receptor with excellent selectivity versus the micro opioid receptor. They were full agonists at the delta opioid receptor, as assessed by stimulation of GTPgammaS binding, and displayed antinociceptive activity.     

14-O-Heterocyclic-substituted naltrexone derivatives as non-peptide mu opioid receptor selective antagonists: Design,synthesis, and biological studies

Mu opioid receptor antagonists have clinical utility and are important research tools. To develop non-peptide and highly selective mu opioid receptor antagonist, a series of 14-O-heterocyclic-substituted naltrexone derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated. These compounds showed subnanomolar-to-nanomolar binding affinity for the mu opioid receptor. Among them, compound 1 exhibited the highest selectivity for the mu opioid receptor over the delta and kappa receptors. These results implicated an alternative ‘address’ domain in the extracellular loops of the mu opioid receptor.     

Analgesic, receptor binding, and peripheral opioid activities of synthetic dermorphin-dynorphin hybrid peptides

The effects of substituting the enkephalin moiety of dynorphin with the dermorphin sequence were studied on the receptor preference, analgesic, and peripheral opioid potencies by using synthetic dermorphin-dynorphin hybrid peptides as the probe. Replacement of the enkephalin moiety of dynorphin with the dermorphin or dermorphin1-5 sequences caused a remarkable increase in analgesic potency, and a 3-6 fold increase in potency of binding against [3H]-dihydromorphine. The potency of receptor binding against [3H]-EKC was also increased by incorporation of the whole dermorphin sequence into the dynorphin molecule. In the presence of NaCl (100 mM), the effect of enhancing binding against [3H]-EKC due to dermorphin substitution disappeared, suggesting the contribution of opioid mu-receptor. Peripheral opioid activities assayed by various smooth muscle preparations showed that dermorphin incorporation caused a decreased in the potency of inhibition of the contractions of the guinea pig ileum and the rabbit vas deferens, no change in potency on the mouse vas deferens, and a marked increase in the inhibition of the rat vas deferens. Among the peripheral opioid activities only that assayed with the rat vas deferens appears to correlate approximately with the analgesic and the receptor binding activities. Judging from the relative potencies obtained from all assays, it is evident that the N-terminal dermorphin moiety, but not the C-terminal dynorphin fragment, dominates the opioid activity and receptor preference of the hybrid peptide.     

A high affinity, highly selective ligand for the delta opioid receptor: [3H]-[D-Pen2, pCl-Phe4, d-Pen5]enkephalin

Binding characteristics of a new, conformationally constrained, halogenated enkephalin analogue, [3H]-[D-penicillamine2, pCl-Phe4, D-penicillamine5]enkephalin ([3H]pCl-DPDPE), were determined using homogenized rat brain tissue. Saturation binding studies at 25 degrees C determined a dissociation constant (Kd) of 328 +/- 27.pM and a receptor density (Bmax) of 87.2 +/- 4.2 fmol/mg protein. Kinetic studies demonstrated biphasic association for [3H]pCl-DPDPE, with association rate constants of 5.05 x 10(8) +/- 2.5 x 10(8) and 0.147 +/- 10(8) +/- 0.014 x 10(8) M-1 min-1. Dissociation was monophasic with a dissociation rate constant of 2.96 x 10(-3) +/- 0.25 x 10(-3) min-1. The average Kd values determined by these kinetic studies were 8.4 +/- 2.7 pM and 201 +/- 4 pM. Competitive inhibition studies demonstrated that [3H]pCl-DPDPE has excellent selectively for the delta opioid receptor. [3H]pCl-DPDPE binding was inhibited by low concentrations of ligands selective for delta opioid receptor relative to the concentrations required by ligands selective for mu and kappa sites. These data show that [3H]pCl-DPDPE is a highly selective, high affinity ligand which should be useful in characterizing the delta opioid receptor.     

Intact brain cells: a novel model system for studying opioid receptor binding

This paper presents the use of a novel tissue preparation to study opioid receptor binding in viable intact cells derived from whole brains of adult rats. Mechanically dissociated and sieved cells, which were not homogenized at any stage of the experimental protocol, and iso-osmotic physiological buffer were used in these experiments. This system was adapted in order to avoid mechanical and chemical disruption of cell membranes, cytoskeletal ultrastructure or receptor topography by homogenization or by the use of non-physiological buffers, and to mimic in vivo binding conditions as much as possible. Using [3H]naloxone as the radioligand, our studies showed saturable and stereospecific high-affinity binding of this opioid antagonist in intact cells, which in turn showed consistently high viability. [3H]Naloxone binding was also linear over a wide range of tissue concentrations. This technique provides a very promising model for future studies of the binding of opioids and of many other classes of drugs to brain tissue receptors in a more physiologically relevant system than those commonly used to date.     

Synthesis,opioid receptor binding,and functional activity of 5'-substituted 17-cyclopropylmethylpyrido[2',3':6,7]morphinans

A series of naltrexone-derived pyridomorphinans possessing various substituents at the 5'-position on the pyridine ring were synthesized and evaluated for opioid receptor binding in rodent brain membranes and functional activity in smooth muscle preparations. While the introduction of aromatic 1-pyrrolyl group (6h) improved the delta affinity and delta antagonist potency of the parent compound (3), the introduction of guanidine group (6i) transformed it to a kappa selective ligand in opioid receptor binding and [35S]GTP-gamma-S functional assays.     

Characterization of [3H]naltrindole binding to delta opioid receptors in rat brain.

[3H]Naltrindole binding characteristics were determined using homogenized rat brain tissue. Saturation binding studies at 25 degrees C measured an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) value of 37.0 +/- 3.0 pM and a receptor density (Bmax) value of 63.4 +/- 2.0 fmol/mg protein. Association binding studies showed that equilibrium was reached within 90 min at a radioligand concentration of 30 pM. Naltrindole, as well as the ligands selective for delta (delta) opioid receptors, such as pCI-DPDPE and Deltorphin II inhibited [3H]naltrindole binding with nanomolar IC50 values. Ligands selective for mu (mu) and kappa (kappa) opioid receptors were only effective in inhibiting [3H]naltrindole binding at micromolar concentrations. From these data, we conclude that [3H]naltrindole is a high affinity, selective radioligand for delta opioid receptors.     

CHO细胞表达人源μ型阿片受体及其活性分析

μ型阿片受体在阿片类药物镇痛与成瘾中发挥重要作用 .从人脑组织总RNA通过一次反转录和两次PCR法扩增获得 μ型阿片受体的cDNA ,将其克隆至pcDNA3 1 (+)中 ,转染CHO细胞后 ,筛选单克隆细胞株并制备膜受体 ,检测重组细胞株表达的 μ型阿片受体与特异性配体的结合能力 .通过饱和性结合和竞争性结合试验证实 ,重组细胞株表达的 μ型阿片受体与天然的 μ型阿片受体具有基本一致的生物学特性 ,为进一步研究阿片受体与配体相互作用的分子机制打下了基础     

Molecular identification and functional expression of mu 3, a novel alternatively spliced variant of the human mu opiate receptor gene

Studies from our laboratory have revealed a novel mu opiate receptor, mu 3, which is expressed in both vascular tissues and leukocytes. The mu 3 receptor is selective for opiate alkaloids and is insensitive to opioid peptides. We now identify the mu 3 receptor at the molecular level using a 441-bp conserved region of the mu 1 receptor. Sequence analysis of the isolated cDNA suggests that it is a novel, alternatively spliced variant of the mu opiate receptor gene. To determine whether protein expressed from this cDNA exhibits the biochemical characteristics expected of the mu 3 receptor, the cDNA clone was expressed in a heterologous system. At the functional level, COS-1 cells transfected with the mu 3 receptor cDNA exhibited dose-dependent release of NO following treatment with morphine, but not opioid peptides (i.e., Met-enkephalin). Naloxone was able to block the effect of morphine on COS-1 transfected cells. Nontransfected COS-1 cells did not produce NO in the presence of morphine or the opioid peptides at similar concentrations. Receptor binding analysis with [(3)H]dihydromorphine further supports the opiate alkaloid selectivity and opioid peptide insensitivity of this receptor. These data suggest that this new mu opiate receptor cDNA encodes the mu 3 opiate receptor, since it exhibits biochemical characteristics known to be unique to this receptor (opiate alkaloid selective and opioid peptide insensitive). Furthermore, using Northern blot, RT-PCR, and sequence analysis, we have demonstrated the expression of this new mu variant in human vascular tissue, mononuclear cells, polymorphonuclear cells, and human neuroblastoma cells.     

Opioid receptor selectivity of peptide models of beta-endorphin

Two peptides, designed to contain structural models of the proposed hydrophilic linker domain (residues 6-12) and amphiphilic alpha-helical domain (residues 13-29) in beta-endorphin, have been tested for their abilities to mimic the opioid receptor selectivity profile of the natural hormone. In competitive binding assays employing guinea-pig brain membranes, both peptides displayed a much higher affinity for mu- and delta-opioid receptors than for kappa opioid receptors. Relative to beta-endorphin, the peptide models were 2-3 times more potent in the mu and kappa receptor binding assays, and about equipotent in the delta receptor binding assay. In guinea-pig ileum assays, one peptide was equipotent to beta-endorphin and the other was twice as potent. Like beta-endorphin, their actions on this tissue were highly sensitive to naloxone antagonism, indicating that they were mediated by mu receptors and not kappa receptors. In view of the design of the two peptide models, and their minimal homology to the natural hormone, these results provide additional evidence in support to our proposal for the functional conformation of beta-endorphin.     

Characterization of [125I]AR-M100613, a high-affinity radioligand for delta opioid receptors

AR-M100613 ([I]-Dmt-c[-D-Orn-2-Nal-D-Pro-D-Ala-]) is the iodinated analog of a cyclic casomorphin previously shown to be a potent antagonist at the delta opioid receptor. Specific [125I]AR-M100613 binding to rat whole brain membranes was saturable, reversible, and best fit to a one-site model (Kd = 0.080 +/- 0.008 nM, Bmax = 45.2 +/- 4.4 fmol/mg protein). [125I]AR-M100613 binding was displaced with high affinity by the delta opioid receptor ligands SNC-80, Deltorphin II and DPDPE but not the mu or kappa-selective receptor ligands DAMGO and U69593. Residual non-selective binding of [125I]AR-M 100613 to mu opioid receptors is blocked by the addition of CTOP to the assay buffer. [35S]GTPgammaS binding assays indicate that AR-M100613 is a potent, selective, and reversible antagonist for delta opioid receptors in rat brain membranes. The high-affinity, high specific activity, low nonspecific binding and antagonist profile of [125I]AR-M100613 favor its use as a radiochemical probe for delta opioid receptors.     

Upregulation of opioid receptor subtypes correlates with potency changes of morphine and DADLE

Chronic treatment with opioid antagonists increases the potency of opioid agonists and produces an increase in brain opioid binding sites. In the present study, 8 day treatment with naltrexone blocked morphine and DADLE analgesia for the entire treatment period and increased mu 1, mu 2 and delta opioid receptor binding sites in mouse brain. mu 1 and mu 2 binding were increased by 81 and 67%, respectively, while delta binding was increased by 31%. Consistent with these binding changes, the potency of ICV morphine to produce analgesia was increased by over 3-fold, while the potency of ICV DADLE was increased by only 1.7. These findings indicate that relative increases in opioid receptor subtypes agree with pharmacodynamic studies on potency changes of opioid agonists.     

The design and synthesis of a novel quinolizidine template for potent opioid and opioid receptor-like (ORL1, NOP) receptor ligands

A new class of high affinity opioid and opioid receptor-like receptor (ORL1 receptor, NOP receptor) ligands has been designed by conformational restriction of piperidine-based NOP receptor ligands, resulting in a novel quinolizidine scaffold. Different modifications of the pendant functional groups on the scaffold provide differential activities at the opioid and NOP receptors. While the conformational rigidity will provide an improved understanding of the NOP and opioid receptor binding pockets, these compounds also provide a new template for the design of novel opiate and NOP ligands.     

In Vitro and In Vivo Expression of Opioid and σ Receptors in Rat C6 Glioma and Mouse N18TG2 Neuroblastoma Cells

Abstract: Mouse N18TG2 neuroblastoma and rat C6 glioma cell lines were injected into male nude mice, and the tumors were passaged serially. At each generation, tumors were analyzed for δ opioid binding using [³H][ d -Ala², d -Leu⁵]enkephalin and for σ₁ and σ₂ binding with 1,3-[³H]di- o -tolylguanidine in the presence and absence of 1 µ M pentazocine. Receptor density ( B _max) and affinity ( K _D) were estimated by homologous competition binding assays. Opioid and σ B _max values in the solid tumors were significantly lower than their original levels in vitro. K _D values for opioid/σ ligands were similar in vitro and in vivo. With successive passages in the murine host, δ opioid and σ₁ binding of the neuroblastoma-derived solid tumors became undetectable. In contrast, σ₂ receptor B _max values were unchanged with successive passages of the neuroblastoma-derived tumors and doubled in the nude mouse-borne gliomas. When neuroblastoma-derived solid tumors that were devoid of δ opioid binding were returned to culture, opioid receptors appeared to be up-regulated as compared with their original in vitro levels. Serial passaging of these recultured cells in vivo again resulted in a rapid decline in opioid receptor content. The opioid data are consistent with our prior findings on opioid binding diminution in human brain tumors. The pattern of change for σ binding was more complex, with the σ₂ response in late passages of the glioma being reminiscent of the formerly observed increase in number of σ sites in transformed human meninges, kidney, and colon tissue.     

Single residue modifications of the delta opioid receptor selective peptide, [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]-enkephalin (DPDPE). Correlation of pharmacological effects with structural and conformational features

Six analogs of the highly delta opioid receptor selective, conformationally restricted, cyclic peptide [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin, Tyr-D-Pen-Gly-Phe-D-PenOH (DPDPE), were synthesized and evaluated for opioid activity in rat brain receptor binding and mouse vas deferens (MVD) smooth muscle assays. All analogs were single amino acid modifications of DPDPE and employed amino acid substitutions of known effects in linear enkephalin analogs. The effect on binding affinity and MVD potency of each modification within the DPDPE structural framework was consistent with the previous reports on similarly substituted linear analogs. Conformational features of four of the modified DPDPE analogs were examined by 1H NMR spectroscopy and compared with DPDPE. From these studies it was concluded that the observed pharmacological differences with DPDPE displayed by diallyltyrosine1-DPDPE ([DAT1]DPDPE) and phenylglycine4-DPDPE ([Pgl4]DPDPE) are due to structural and/or conformational differences localized near the substituted amino acid. The observed enhanced mu receptor binding affinity of the carboxamide terminal DPDPE-NH2 appears to be founded solely upon electronic differences, the NMR data suggesting indistinguishable conformations. The observation that the alpha-aminoisobutyric acid substituted analog [Aib3]DPDPE displays similar in vitro opioid behavior as DPDPE while apparently assuming a significantly different solution conformation suggests that further detailed conformational analysis of this analog will aid the elucidation of the key structural and conformational features required for action at the delta opioid receptor.     

Binding mode characterization of 6α- and 6β-N-heterocyclic substituted naltrexamine derivatives via docking in opioid receptor crystal structures and site-directed mutagenesis studies: Application of the ‘message–address’ concept in development of mu opioid receptor selective antagonists

Highly selective opioid receptor antagonists are essential pharmacological probes in opioid receptor structural characterization and opioid agonist functional studies. Currently, there is no highly selective, nonpeptidyl and reversible mu opioid receptor antagonist available. Among a series of naltrexamine derivatives that have been designed and synthesized, two compounds, NAP and NAQ, were previously identified as novel leads for this purpose based on their in vitro and in vivo pharmacological profiles. Both compounds displayed high binding affinity and selectivity to the mu opioid receptor. To further study the interaction of these two ligands with the three opioid receptors, the recently released opioid receptor crystal structures were employed in docking studies to further test our original hypothesis that the ligands recognize a unique ‘address’ domain in the mu opioid receptor involving Trp318 that facilitates their selectivity. These modeling results were supported by site-directed mutagenesis studies on the mu opioid receptor, where the mutants Y210A and W318A confirmed the role of the latter in binding. Such work not only enriched the ‘message–address’ concept, also facilitated our next generation ligand design and development.     

Modification by Cholecystokinin Octapeptide of the Binding ofμ-, δ-, and K-Opioid Receptors

Previous study has shown that cholecystokinin (CCK) octapeptide (CCK-8) suppressed the binding of opioid receptors to the universal opioid agonist [3H]etorphine. In the present study, highly selective tritium-labeled agonists for the mu-[(tryrosyl-3,5-3H][D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin ([3H]DAGO], delta- ([tyrosyl-3,5-3H][D-Pen2,5]enkephalin ([3H]DPDPE], and kappa- ([3H]U69,593) opioid receptors were used to clarify which type(s) of opioid receptor in rat brain homogenates is suppressed by CCK-8. In the competition experiments, CCK-8 suppressed the binding of [3H]DAGO and [3H]U69,593 but not that of [3H]DPDPE to the respective opioid receptor. This effect was blocked by the CCK antagonist proglumide at 1 mumol/L. In the saturation experiments, CCK-8 at concentrations of 0.1 nmol/L to 1 mumol/L decreased the Bmax of [3H]DAGO binding sites without affecting the KD; on the other hand, CCK-8 increased the KD of [3H]U69,593 binding without changing the Bmax. The results suggest that CCK-8 inhibits the binding of mu- and kappa-opioid receptors via the activation of CCK receptors.     

3D modeling, ligand binding and activation studies of the cloned mouse delta, mu; and kappa opioid receptors

Refined 3D models of the transmembrane domains of the cloned delta, mu and kappa opioid receptors belonging to the superfamily of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) were constructed from a multiple sequence alignment using the alpha carbon template of rhodopsin recently reported. Other key steps in the procedure were relaxation of the 3D helix bundle by unconstrained energy optimization and assessment of the stability of the structure by performing unconstrained molecular dynamics simulations of the energy optimized structure. The results were stable ligand-free models of the TM domains of the three opioid receptors. The ligand-free delta receptor was then used to develop a systematic and reliable procedure to identify and assess putative binding sites that would be suitable for similar investigation of the other two receptors and GPCRs in general. To this end, a non-selective, 'universal' antagonist, naltrexone, and agonist, etorphine, were used as probes. These ligands were first docked in all sites of the model delta opioid receptor which were sterically accessible and to which the protonated amine of the ligands could be anchored to a complementary proton-accepting residue. Using these criteria, nine ligand-receptor complexes with different binding pockets were identified and refined by energy minimization. The properties of all these possible ligand-substrate complexes were then examined for consistency with known experimental results of mutations in both opioid and other GPCRs. Using this procedure, the lowest energy agonist-receptor and antagonist-receptor complexes consistent with these experimental results were identified. These complexes were then used to probe the mechanism of receptor activation by identifying differences in receptor conformation between the agonist and the antagonist complex during unconstrained dynamics simulation. The results lent support to a possible activation mechanism of the mouse delta opioid receptor similar to that recently proposed for several other GPCRs. They also allowed the selection of candidate sites for future mutagenesis experiments.