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Chapter 51 - Morphine and Trafficking of a Mu Opioid Receptor Interacting Protein WLS
Book chapter

Chapter 51 - Morphine and Trafficking of a Mu Opioid Receptor Interacting Protein WLS

Beverly A.S. Reyes, Wade H. Berrettini, Nicole M. Enman and Elisabeth J. Van Bockstaele
Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse Volume 3, pp 508-516
2016

Abstract

DAMGO Electron microscopy Immunogold-silver particles Morphine Mu opioid receptor Wnt Wntless
Opiate addiction is a significant public health problem afflicting approximately 2 million Americans and 3 million Europeans who are addicted to heroin or using nonmedical prescription analgesics. Opiates belong to opioid alkaloids that are natural derivatives of the opium plant, Papaver somniferum, including morphine. Morphine is one of the major psychoactive opiates. Chronic or prolonged exposure to opioids such as morphine may lead to opiate dependence. The analgesic and addictive properties of opioids are mediated, in part, through binding with the mu opioid receptor (MOR). Novel putative targets for intervention in opioid abuse are MOR interacting proteins, which have been shown to regulate the trafficking of MOR. We have shown that morphine induces subcellular redistribution of an MOR interacting protein, Wntless (WLS). WLS is a transmembrane protein critical for secretion of Wnt signaling protein. This review will summarize the current knowledge regarding adaptations in WLS expression and trafficking that represent a novel pharmacological target in the treatment of opiate dependence and addiction.

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