Identification of delta- and mu-type opioid receptors on human and murine dendritic cells

The purpose of this study was to evaluate mu- and delta-opioid receptors (OR) on human and murine dendritic cells (DC). Expression of mu- and delta-OR mRNA on DC was demonstrated by RT-PCR. The immunocytochemical and Western blot analyses revealed the expression of OR protein in DC. Radioreceptor assay demonstrated the specific saturated temperature-dependent binding of [3H]-labeled opioid ligand on DC and B(max)=2.8+/-0.3 fmol/10(6) cells and K(D)=4.8+/-1.0 nM were calculated by a Scatchard analysis. Finally, OR ligands DADLE and DAGO dose-dependently modulated the capacity of DC to induce T cell proliferation in an MLR assay. Importantly, expression of functional OR on DC was significantly increased upon TNF-alpha-induced DC maturation. Thus, these data suggest a new mechanism of opioid-dependent neuroendocrine immunomodulation.