Stefano G B, Casares F, Liu U
Multidisciplinary Center for the Study of Aging, State University of New York at Old Westbury 11568, USA.
Acta Biol Hung. 1995;46(2-4):321-7.
Previous studies demonstrated the presence of a delta 2 opioid receptor on human and invertebrate immunocytes. The present study demonstrates that this new binding site regulates invertebrate immunocyte activation. In the present study we note that the select delta antagonist, naltrindole, at a low concentration (10(-11) M), can significantly inhibit DAMA induced activation. Interestingly, the general opioid and opiate antagonist, naloxone, is not effective at this low concentration, further suggesting that the delta 2 opioid receptor mediates opioid immunocyte activation. This conclusion is further supported by the fact that DPDPE and DADLE, known to influence delta 1 activity did not affect immunocyte activation at low concentrations.
