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.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Alternative Splicing / genetics*
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Amino Acid Sequence / genetics
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Antigens, CD19 / genetics
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Antigens, CD19 / immunology
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B-Lymphocytes / immunology
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Base Sequence / genetics
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Cell Culture Techniques
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Gene Expression / genetics
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Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
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Humans
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Lymphocytes / cytology
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Lymphocytes / immunology*
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nociceptin
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Nociceptin Receptor
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Opioid Peptides / genetics*
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Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
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RNA Splice Sites / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / genetics*
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Receptors, Opioid / genetics
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Spleen / cytology
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Spleen / immunology
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Transcriptional Activation / genetics
Substances
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Antigens, CD19
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Opioid Peptides
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RNA Splice Sites
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RNA, Messenger
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Receptors, Opioid
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Nociceptin Receptor
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OPRL1 protein, human