NALTRINDOLE SENSITIVE DELTA(2) OPIOID RECEPTOR MEDIATES INVERTEBRATE IMMUNOCYTE ACTIVATION

Previous studies demonstrated the presence of a delta(2) opioid recept or on human and invertebrate immunocytes. The present study demonstrat es that this new binding site regulates invertebrate immunocyte activa tion. In the present study we note that the select delta antagonist, n altrindole, at a low concentration (10(-11) M), can significantly inhi bit DAMA induced activation. Interestingly, the general opioid and opi ate antagonist, naloxone, is not effective at this low concentration, further suggesting that the delta(2) opioid receptor mediates opioid i mmunocyte activation. This conclusion is further supported by the fact that DPOPE and DADLE, known to influence delta(1) activity did not af fect immunocyte activation at low concentrations.