Opioid receptor ligands derived from food proteins.

During the last two decades a variety of food protein fragments has been demonstrated to elicit biological effects in various in vitro or in vivo test systems. A considerable part of these bioactive peptides are opioid receptor ligands, which may be regarded as exogenous supplements to the endogenous opioidergic systems of the human organism. Most of these food-derived opioid receptor ligands are fragments of the milk proteins alpha-, beta- or kappa-casein, alpha-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin or lactotransferrin; however, also wheat gluten, rice albumin, bovine serum albumin or hemoglobin, i.e. possible constituents of meat, and even a protein from spinach could be demonstrated to contain fragments behaving like opioid receptor ligands. Practically all of these compounds display opioid agonist activity; only very few of them behave like opioid antagonists. Bioactive food protein derivatives have been termed " food hormones", which implies that these compounds display their bioactivities when released from food constituents, i.e. from their precursor molecules due to the action of gastrointestinal enzymes. The critical point in case of food protein-derived opioid receptor ligands is that only a minority of their bioactive effects demonstrated as yet has been observed upon oral or intragastric administration of these peptides or their precursor proteins and that most of these studies have been performed in animals. Thus, in terms of "evidence-based dietary supplementation" more studies are needed to prove effects of food protein-derived opioid receptor ligands or their precursors after oral administration in humans and, moreover, to prove a benefit for the consumer's organism.

beta-Endorphin immunoreactive material and authentic beta-endorphin in the plasma of males undergoing anaerobic exercise on a rowing ergometer.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), beta-endorphin immunoreactive material (beta-endorphin IRM), and authentic beta-endorphin (1 -31) have been determined in the plasma of 23 volunteers undergoing anaerobic exercise on a rowing ergometer. The volunteers had different histories of training from occasional physical activities up to intensive preparation for international rowing competitions. ACTH and beta-endorphin-IRM were determined using commercially available immunometric assays; for determination of beta-endorphin (1-31) a highly specific two-site fluid phase immunoprecipitation radioimmunoassay was developed, which did not cross-react with any beta-endorphin derivative or any other opioid peptide tested. In agreement with reports from the literature ACTH and beta-endorphin-IRM concentrations in the plasma rose upon anaerobic exercise in all 23 subjects; this increase in the ACTH and beta-endorphin IRM levels was significantly correlated with the increase of lactate levels observed upon anaerobic exercise. Authentic beta-endorphin (1-31) was only found in two plasma samples containing minor concentrations of the peptide. We conclude that the beta-endorphin immunoreactive material released into blood under anaerobic exercise is identical with authentic beta-endorphin (1-31) only to a minor extent and thus should not be called "beta-endorphin". The major part of the material in fact released into the blood upon anaerobic exercise is probably identical with beta-lipotropin and further components so far unknown.

Morphine suppresses complement receptor expression, phagocytosis, and respiratory burst in neutrophils by a nitric oxide and mu(3) opiate receptor-dependent mechanism.

We investigated whether morphine and fentanyl influence surface receptor expression, phagocytic activity and superoxide anion generation of neutrophils in a whole blood flow cytometric assay. Morphine suppressed complement and Fcgamma receptor expression and neutrophil function in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Morphine-induced changes were similar to those caused by the nitric oxide (NO) donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine and were abolished by preincubation with the NO synthase inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine as well as naloxone. Fentanyl had no immunosuppressive effects. These results suggest that these neutrophil functions are inhibited by morphine-stimulated NO release mediated by the mu(3) opiate receptor subtype found on immunocytes.

A delta opioid receptor lacking the third cytoplasmic loop is generated by atypical mRNA processing in human malignomas.

delta Opioid receptors were identified in human melanomas by RT-PCR and radioligand binding. In all tumors an additional PCR amplificate was detected in which 144 bp within the third exon were deleted. This fragment corresponded to the third cytoplasmic domain of the receptor protein. The short variant resulted from atypical mRNA processing. There were no common splice recognition sequences around the deleted fragment; instead its excision resembled the removal of a transposon. The deletion was not detected in normal human melanocytes nor in human or rat brain. However, it was present in a human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y). Thus, it appears that the occurrence of the short delta opioid receptor is correlated to malignancy.

Beta-endorphin (1-31) in the plasma of male volunteers undergoing physical exercise.

beta-Endorphin is an opioid peptide representing the C-terminal 31 amino acid residue fragment of proopiomelanocortin (POMC). The release of beta-endorphin from the pituitary into the cardiovascular compartment under physical or emotional stress has been frequently reported. However, besides beta-endorphin (1-31), nine acetylated or non-acetylated beta-endorphin analogues exist - in addition to N-terminally elongated beta-endorphin derivatives such as beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH). Since conventional radioimmunoassays (RIAs) and even commercially available two site-RIAs pick up at least some of those beta-endorphin derivatives, only "beta-endorphin immunoreactive materials" and not authentic beta-endorphin have been determined in those studies. We have developed a highly specific two site-RIA for beta-endorphin (1-31), which does not cross-react with all beta-endorphin derivatives known to occur as yet. Using this RIA as well as further assays for determination of beta-endorphin (1-31), beta-endorphin immunoreactive material (IRM), ACTH and Cortisol in the plasma of 14 volunteers upon intensive physical exercise, we found authentic beta-endorphin only in about 50% of the plasma samples, representing therein only a minor portion of the beta-endorphin IRM.

Effects of oral casokefamide on plasma levels, tolerance, and intestinal transit in man.

Food-derived opioid peptides such as beta-casomorphins are of interest for treatment of chronic diarrhea. The beta-casomorphin analog casokefamide was administered orally at doses of 5.5, 8.0, and 16.0 mg to 10 healthy male volunteers, respectively. Dose-dependent increases of plasma levels with a maximum of 350 fmol/l were determined. No side-effects due to casokefamide has been observed. In comparison to placebo, casokefamide showed a trend toward prolongation of oro-caecal transit time. Orally applied casokefamide is well tolerated and may represent a useful tool for treatment of diarrhea in the future.

Diminution of contractile response by kappa-opioid receptor agonists in isolated rat ventricular cardiomyocytes is mediated via a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein.

Opioids directly decrease the contractile response of isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes to electrical stimulation. To investigate whether these effects are mediated via GTP-binding G(i/o) proteins we examined the influence of pertussis toxin on the effects of the kappa-opioid receptor agonist trans-(+/-)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]-benz eneacetamide (U-50,488) methanesulphonate and on the as yet undescribed effects of the opioid peptide dynorphin A (1-8) on contraction. In isolated, electrically driven, rat ventricular cardiomyocytes both agents concentration dependently reduced cell shortening within 15 min, decreasing the contractile response by 79+/-4% (n=5) and 62+/-2% (n=6) of control values at maximal effective concentrations of 10 microM (U-50,488) and 1 microM [dynorphin A (1-8)], respectively. Pertussis toxin pre-treatment (200 ng/ml; 4.5-5 h) completely abolished the effects of U-50,488 and dynorphin A (1-8) on the contractile response, indicating that these effects are mediated via G(i/o) proteins. In addition, the non-selective opioid receptor antagonist (-)-naloxone and the kappa-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine antagonized the effects of U-50,488 and dynorphin A (1-8) on the contractile response. Furthermore, the mu- and delta-opioid receptor agonist (D-Ala2, D-Leu5)-enkephalin (DADLE) had no effects on contraction. These results indicate that the decrease in cell shortening is due to stimulation of kappa-opioid receptors. The direct effect of kappa-opioid receptor agonists on the contractile response thus represents an additional mechanism for decreasing cardiac contractility, besides the M-cholinoceptor- or adenosine receptor-mediated pathway. It is conceivable that increased release of endogenous dynorphins from the heart during hypoxia may protect the heart in a similar manner to adenosine.

Milk protein-derived opioid receptor ligands.

Milk is mammalian characteristic and is of particular importance for humans: Mother's milk or its substitutes from cows' milk are absolutely essential nutriments for the neonate and cows' milk also represents a basic foodstuff for adults. However, in addition to their well-known nutritive role, milk constituents apparently are also able to carry specific information from the milk producer's to the milk receiver's organism: Thus, a number of milk protein fragments has been shown to behave like opioid receptor ligands able to address opioidergic systems in the adult's or in the neonate's organism. With respect to the proteins, which they are derived off these peptides have been named alpha-casein exorphins or casoxin D (alpha-casein), beta-casomorphins or beta-casorphin (beta-casein), casoxin or casoxin A, B, or C (k-casein), alpha-lactorphins (alpha-lactalbumin), beta-lactorphin (beta-lactoglobulin) or lactoferroxins (lactoferrin). Only casoxins and lactoferroxins display antagonistic properties; the other peptides behave like opioid receptor agonists. Most of the information available so far has been collected about beta-casomorphins. These peptides obviously can be released from beta-casein in the adult's or in the neonate's organism, where they might elicit opioid effects in the frame of a regulatory role as "food hormones". Several synthetic beta-casomorphin derivatives have been shown to be highly specific and potent mu-type opioid receptor ligands which frequently have been used as standard tools in opioid research.

Opioids in the milk.

In various studies, the milk has been screened for the presence of free or precursor-bound opioids. In fact, various opioid receptor ligands with agonistic or even antagonistic activity were found. Besides the alkaloid morphine, peptides derived from alpha-casein (alpha-casein exorphins), beta-casein (beta-casomorphins; beta-casorphin), alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-lactorphins) and beta-lactoglobulin (beta-lactorphin) were among the agonists. In addition, certain peptides derived from k-casein (casoxins) or from lactoferrin (lactoferroxins) were found to behave like opioid antagonists. Although a functional role in the mammalian organism for all of these compounds appears to be well possible, evidence has only been presented for the functional significance of beta-casomorphins, so far. These peptides might play a role in reproduction or nutrition in the female, in the newborn's or in a milk consumer's organism, respectively. Thus, opioids related to milk might represent essential exogenous extensions of the endogenous opiodergic systems.

A novel beta-endorphin binding protein. Complement S protein (= vitronectin) exhibits specific non-opioid binding sites for beta-endorphin upon interaction with heparin or surfaces.

Human beta-endorphin (1-31) (beta H-endorphin) was found to specifically interact with purified complement S protein from human plasma. As found by chemical cross-linking beta H-endorphin bound to both, the 65- and 75-kDa molecular mass forms of S protein. The interaction of S protein with heparin as well as the adsorption of S protein to surfaces led to an almost 10-fold increase of specific binding which was due to the exposure of further beta H-endorphin-binding sites. The interaction of beta H-endorphin with S protein bore characteristics of a ligand-receptor interaction, such as time dependence, reversibility, high affinity, saturability, and structural specificity and was mediated through the non-opioid COOH terminus of the beta H-endorphin molecule. beta H-Endorphin binding to S protein was observed at physiological pH or cation concentrations, indicating that the interaction may well occur in vivo. Our results provide conclusive evidence that interactions of S protein with very different effectors led to similar conformational changes which uniformly resulted in exposure of a highly specific beta H-endorphin binding domain on S protein. With S protein as major beta H-endorphin-binding protein in the periphery, the molecular basis of a widespread system of humoral target sites of the neuroendocrine effector appears to be established. In view of S protein involvement in processes of inflammation and wound repair and beta-endorphin effects on immunocompetent cells, the demonstrated S protein-beta H-endorphin interaction appears to be of considerable functional significance.

Human beta-casomorphin-8 immunoreactive material in the plasma of women during pregnancy and after delivery.

A method for the extraction of human beta-casomorphin-8 immunoreactive material from human plasma and a radioimmunoassay for its determination in the plasma extracts were developed. Blood was collected from 34 men, from 35 non-pregnant women, from 35 pregnant women and from 138 women after delivery and plasma extracts were assayed for the presence of human beta-casomorphin-8 immunoreactive materials. No human beta-casomorphin-8 immunoreactive material was detected in the plasma of men or non-pregnant women, whereas such material was found in the plasma of 26 out of 35 pregnant women and in the plasma of 100 out of 138 women after parturition. Material collected from women after delivery was characterized by gel filtration and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and was found to be of different composition in various individuals; its components, one of which coeluted with human beta-casein from the HPLC column, have apparently higher molecular weights than human beta-casomorphin-8. Some of these compounds seem to be very stable against enzymatic degradation at 37 degrees C in human plasma, whereas human beta-casomorphin-8 proved to be degraded very fast under identical conditions. A physiological significance of mammary products of the beta-casomorphin type during pregnancy or after parturition is suggested.

Characterization and identification of heparin-induced nonopioid-binding sites for beta-endorphin in human plasma.

We have characterized the specific binding of human beta-endorphin (1-31) to novel binding sites which are formed in human plasma or serum in the presence of heparin. The formation of the binding sites is temperature-dependent and does not occur in the presence of other anticoagulants, such as sodium-EDTA, sodium-oxalate, or sodium-citrate. The specific binding of 125I-beta H-endorphin to heparin-induced binding sites in human plasma is saturable and reversible. It is not inhibited by morphine or naloxone or by various opioid peptides which share their NH2-terminal opioid-active sequence with beta H-endorphin. In contrast, binding is inhibited by the COOH-terminal beta H-endorphin fragment Gly-Glu indicating that binding is to nonopioid sites. Electroimmunoprecipitation techniques revealed that these binding sites are identical with S protein/vitronectin or derivatives thereof. S protein is a plasma alpha 1-glycoprotein involved in attachment and spreading of cells and also in blood coagulation and complement activation. It is possible that the interaction of beta-endorphin with S protein is of physiological significance.

Determination of ß-Endorphin and Fragments Thereof in Human Plasma Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and a Multiple Radioimmunoassay System.

A method for the determination of ß-endorphin and ß-endorphin fragments in human plasma was developed. ß-Endorphin-related peptides were extracted from plasma using octadecasilyl-silica cartridges. Extracts were subjected to re versed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Extracts as well as HPLC column eluates were assayed using a multiple radioimmunoassay system; several antibodies directed against various distinct regions of the ß-endorphin molecule were employed. Using this method, evidence for the presence of multiple ß-endorphin fragments in the plasma of healthy young volunteers (under normal conditions) was obtained.

Opioid activities of human beta-casomorphins.

Opioid activities of human beta-casomorphin-4, -5, -7 and -8 and, for comparison, of the corresponding bovine beta-casomorphins were studied in the guinea-pig ileum preparation. Binding parameters, i.e. KD-values and binding site concentrations, for the interaction of human and bovine beta-casomorphins with opioid receptors in rat brain homogenates were determined in inhibition experiments, using [3H]-(D-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly-ol5)enkephalin, [3H]-(D-Ala2, D-Leu5)enkephalin and [3H]ethylketazocin as mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid receptor ligands. Analysis of binding data was performed using a non-linear curve fitting program. All beta-casomorphins examined displayed opioid activity. The affinity was highest for mu-receptors, less so for delta-receptors and lowest for kappa-receptors. It is suggested that human beta-casomorphins might play a role as "food hormones".

Demonstration of a beta-casomorphin immunoreactive material in the plasma of newborn calves after milk intake.

Blood was collected from newborn calves before and after their first milk intake after birth; extracts of plasma were assayed by radioimmunoassay for the presence of beta-casomorphin-7 immunoreactive materials. No beta-casomorphin immunoreactivity was found in samples collected before milk ingestion; however, in samples collected after milk ingestion a beta-casomorphin-7 immunoreactive material was detected. Chromatographic characterization showed that this material was not identical with beta-casomorphin-7 but might rather represent a precursor thereof. The material proved resistant to enzymatic attack during a 30-min incubation period at 37 degrees C in the plasma of newborn calves, whereas beta-casomorphin-7 was degraded under these conditions. A physiological significance of beta-casomorphin-7 eventually cleaved from such a precursor material at any site in the newborn mammal is suggested.

beta-Endorphin: surface binding and internalization in thymoma cells.

The opioid peptide beta-endorphin binds to specific nonopioid binding sites (Mr 72,000) that are present on the surface of thymoma cells. beta-Endorphin is then internalized, apparently via the Mr 72,000 species, and is subsequently found within intracellular, vesicular structures. This process is accompanied by the down-regulation of the Mr 72,000 binding sites. Our findings suggest that beta-endorphin may modulate cellular functions, such as T-lymphocyte proliferation, at intracellular rather than cell surface sites.

Demonstration of beta-casomorphin immunoreactive materials in in vitro digests of bovine milk and in small intestine contents after bovine milk ingestion in adult humans.

Healthy young volunteers ingested one liter of cows' milk; then the contents of the small intestine were aspirated through an intestinal tube at various times and assayed for the presence of bovine beta-casomorphin immunoreactive materials. Considerable amounts of beta-casomorphin-7, but no beta-casomorphin-5 and only small amounts of beta-casomorphin-4 or -6 immunoreactive materials were found. Chromatographical characterization showed that most of the beta-casomorphin-7 immunoreactive material was not identical with beta-casomorphin-7, whereas the major part of the beta-casomorphin-4 or -6 immunoreactive materials might be identical with their corresponding beta-casomorphins. Analogous results were obtained for in vitro digestion of bovine milk which had been designed as a rough imitation of the gastrointestinal digestion process. A regulatory influence of beta-casomorphins as "food hormones" on intestinal functions is suggested.