TY - JOUR
T1 - Expression of OP4 (ORL1, NOP1) receptors in vascular endothelium
AU - Granata, Filippo
AU - Potenza, Rossella Luisa
AU - Fiori, Anna
AU - Strom, Roberto
AU - Caronti, Brunella
AU - Molinari, Paola
AU - Donsante, Sonia
AU - Citro, Gennaro
AU - Iacovelli, Luisa
AU - De Blasi, Antonio
AU - Ngomba, Richard T.
AU - Palladini, Guido
AU - Passarelli, Francesca
PY - 2003/12/15
Y1 - 2003/12/15
N2 - Endothelial cells from rat brain microvessels, human aortic artery and human umbilical vein were examined, together with ex vivo rat brain capillaries and rat aortic ring sections, for the expression of opioid receptor-like OP-4 mRNA and protein. High levels of mRNA expression and an immunopositive reaction for the receptor protein were detected in the endothelial cells from primary and from established in vitro cultures, as well as in the intima of ex vivo rat aortic rings, where the signal was limited to the endothelial layer. Interaction of the OP4 receptor with its physiological ligand nociceptin caused, in cultured endothelial cells, the activation of a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade. Taken together, these results show that the OP4 receptor is synthesised and functionally expressed in endothelial cells, presumably as a starting point for some vasoactive mechanism(s).
AB - Endothelial cells from rat brain microvessels, human aortic artery and human umbilical vein were examined, together with ex vivo rat brain capillaries and rat aortic ring sections, for the expression of opioid receptor-like OP-4 mRNA and protein. High levels of mRNA expression and an immunopositive reaction for the receptor protein were detected in the endothelial cells from primary and from established in vitro cultures, as well as in the intima of ex vivo rat aortic rings, where the signal was limited to the endothelial layer. Interaction of the OP4 receptor with its physiological ligand nociceptin caused, in cultured endothelial cells, the activation of a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade. Taken together, these results show that the OP4 receptor is synthesised and functionally expressed in endothelial cells, presumably as a starting point for some vasoactive mechanism(s).
KW - Aorta
KW - Endothelial cell
KW - Immunocytochemistry
KW - In situ hybridization
KW - MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase
KW - OP4 receptor
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ejphar.2003.09.049
DO - 10.1016/j.ejphar.2003.09.049
M3 - Article
C2 - 14660000
AN - SCOPUS:0345167936
SN - 0014-2999
VL - 482
SP - 17
EP - 23
JO - European Journal of Pharmacology
JF - European Journal of Pharmacology
IS - 1-3
ER -