IRAS Modulates Opioid Tolerance and Dependence by Regulating μ Opioid Receptor Trafficking

Imidazoline receptor antisera-selected (IRAS) protein, the mouse homologue named Nischarin, was found to target to early endosomes with properties of sorting nexins in vitro. Recently, we generated IRAS knockout mice and found IRAS deficiency exacerbated the analgesic tolerance and physical dependence caused by opioids, suggesting that IRAS plays a role in regulating μ opioid receptor (MOR) functions. In the present study, we found that IRAS interacts with MOR and regulates MOR trafficking in vitro. In the CHO or HEK293 cells co-expressing MOR and IRAS, IRAS, through its PX domain, interacted with MOR. The interaction facilitated the recycling of internalized MOR and prevented MOR downregulation induced by DAMGO, the MOR agonist. Functionally, IRAS accelerated MOR resensitization and attenuated DAMGO-induced MOR desensitization, which is believed as one of mechanisms mediating opioid tolerance and dependence. Taken together, we propose that IRAS is a new MOR interacting protein and regulates agonist-induced trafficking of MOR via sorting internalized MOR to the recycling pathway, which may be a molecular mechanism underlying IRAS modulating opioid tolerance and dependence.