Rutgers team discovers novel approach to stimulate immune cells

Research builds towards potential treatment for immune diseases and cancer

2012-05-12

(Press-News.org) Researchers at Rutgers University have uncovered a new way to stimulate activity of immune cell opiate receptors, leading to efficient tumor cell clearance.

Dipak Sarkar, professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and his research team have been able to take a new pharmacological approach to activate the immune cells to prevent cancer growth through stimulation of the opiate receptors found on immune cells.

This work, featured on the cover of the May 11 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, describes two structurally different but functionally similar opioid receptors, Mu- and Delta-opioid receptors. These receptors form protein complexes as either two structurally similar receptors as a homodimer—formed by two identical molecules—or two structurally dissimilar protein complexes as a heterodimer—formed by ethanol inducement—in immune cells. The team pharmacologically fooled these two structurally different but functionally similar opioid receptors to form more homodimers so that opioid peptide increases the immune cells' ability to kill tumor cells.

"The potential for this research can lead to production of endogenous opioids in the brain and the periphery becoming more effective in regulating stress and immune function," says Sarkar.

Opioids, like endorphins, communicate with the immune system, so when there is a deficit of endorphin – due to fetal alcohol exposure, alcoholism and drug abuse, anxiety, depression and chronic psychological stress – the body undergoes stress shocks and, as Sarkar suggests, causes "immune incompetence."

"Opioids act as the regulator of body stress mechanism, so when endorphins are low, body stress indicators are high," says Sarkar, who directs the Endocrine Research Program at Rutgers and is a faculty member of the Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies.

"What's new about this latest research is that when we combine the Mu receptor blocker (antagonist) with the Delta receptor stimulator (agonist), the immune cells accrue increased foreign cell-killing ability," explains Sarkar. "This makes the body highly effective in fighting against bacterial infection and tumor growth."

Sarkar believes that combining this opioid antagonist and agonist may have potential therapeutic value in humans for the treatment of immune incompetence, cancer, pain and ethanol-dependent diseases.

Previous research by the Sarkar group showed that replenishing endorphins by cell therapy did prevent many of the stress and immune problems in fetal alcohol-exposed test subjects. However, cell therapy is highly complex, involving the cumbersome process of producing endorphin cells from neural stem cells of patients and can sometimes result in rejection and other issues.

The beginning of the team's interest into how stress causes diseases started with the observation that mothers who suffer from alcohol abuse or with other developmental problems often give birth to children who exhibited hype-stress responses, linked to childhood disease, child abnormality, immune diseases and cancer.

As part of their investigation, the Sarkar research team learned that the endogenous opioid system in the brain is abnormal in kids and adults who demonstrate hyper-stress responses.

"With the link between hyper-stress responses and manifested immune issues, the goal has been to replenish the opioid deficit in the brain and lead to an effective therapy for immune and other diseases," explained Sarkar.

The team also found that when people consume alcohol, the effectiveness of the body's ability to defend against viral and bacterial invasion, and fight against cancer decreases.

"The overall goal of our research program is to increase our understanding of and develop new therapy for the treatment of cancer, immune and other alcoholism-induced diseases," says Sarkar.

They hope that the promise of their novel pharmacological approach that modifies the activity of the opioid receptors of immune cells brings them one step closer in the long road to therapeutic advances.

INFORMATION:

[Attachments] See images for this press release:

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Workers Compensation Benefits and Returning to Work

2012-05-12

In Pennsylvania, workers' compensation helps compensate injured workers hurt through on-the-job accidents. It is essentially a no-fault measure for resolving workplace injury claims, as injured workers are paid for their lost wages and medical expenses in exchange for giving up their right to sue their employer for damages. The main purpose is to help employers and employees alike by making sure that injured workers have a way to maintain a certain standard of living while they recover from their injuries, and to provide a reintegration process after recovery. Most people ...

Proposed Changes to Florida DUI Laws Could Have Affected Sober Drivers

2012-05-12

Florida Senate Bill 1810 proposed sweeping changes to Florida's laws governing driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There were some obvious changes that would have had an immediate affect; for example, the new law would have categorized the offense as "driving while impaired" instead of "driving under the influence." This may seem like a mere semantic argument since most people assume DUI and DWI are interchangeable terms, -- and that might even be true in some jurisdictions -- but in legal parlance, the new law and old one were as different ...

Increasing predator-friendly land can help farmers reduce costs

2012-05-12

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Having natural habitat in farming areas that supports ladybugs could help increase their abundance in crops where they control pests and help farmers reduce their costs, says a Michigan State University study. Ladybugs and other predatory insects eat crop pests, saving farmers an estimated $4.6 billion a year on insecticides. Non-crop plants provide these predatory insects with food and shelter, helping them to survive and thrive in areas where they are needed. In an attempt to increase benefits from predatory insects, researchers have often planted ...

Shortage of Model Behavior in the Modeling Industry

2012-05-12

Almost 30 Percent of Fashion Models Report On-the-Job Sexual Harassment Just because the people are pretty, it doesn't mean that their behavior always is; nearly 30 percent of models report that they have been the victims of job-related sexual harassment. A recent survey conducted by the Model Alliance -- a modeling industry labor organization -- finds that approximately one-third of models report that they have been touched inappropriately while on shoots. Nearly the same number report that they have been pressured to have sex with someone on the job. Tragically, many ...

Scientists 'read' the ash from the Icelandic volcano 2 years after its eruption

2012-05-12

In May 2010, the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull reached the Iberian Peninsula and brought airports to a halt all over Europe. At the time, scientists followed its paths using satellites, laser detectors, sun photometers and other instruments. Two years later they have now presented the results and models that will help to prevent the consequences of such natural phenomena. The eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull in the south of Iceland began on the 20 March, 2010. On the 14 April it began to emit a cloud of ash that moved towards Northern and Central ...

Court Rules That Source Code Theft Was Not a Crime

2012-05-12

Corporate espionage may be more difficult to prosecute criminally after a recent appeals court ruling. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit overturned the conviction of former Goldman Sachs programmer Sergey Aleynikov who was accused of stealing trade secrets and essentially committing espionage against his former employer. Aleynikov allegedly uploaded Goldman's source code to its high-frequency trading system to a remote server in Germany before downloading it to his personal computer and flash drive in Chicago, all before leaving to take a new position with ...

Frequently Asked Questions: Workers' Compensation

2012-05-12

If you are injured while working, you may be able to bring a workers' compensation claim. Workers' compensation replaces your wages and pays for medical expenses related to the workplace accident. The following are some common questions that clients ask Minnesota workers' compensation attorneys. This is general information that should not be construed as legal advice. What should I do when I am injured at work? First, seek medical attention. Then, report your injury to your employer. Give your employer as much information as possible about your injuries, and where ...

Feds Bust Central Florida Marijuana Trafficking Ring

2012-05-12

Largely because of its geography, Florida has long been a favored location of international drug trafficking organizations. The state gained significant national attention in the 1980s after it became an outpost for cocaine distribution rings based in Central and South America. When those groups waned, Mexican cartels stepped into the forefront. In recent years, the cartels have set up drug trafficking networks throughout the state. Earlier this year, state and federal investigators captured members a Mexican marijuana distribution organization that was operating ...

Student Loan Debt: Emerging Problems for All Age Groups

2012-05-12

Many debtors understand that a bankruptcy can discharge unsecured debt such as credit cards and medical bills. However, another common form of unsecured debt, educational loans are generally non-dischargeable when they file bankruptcy. Economists have begun to recognize a growing problem with the amount of student loan debt that Americans have undertaken, and a recent study (released as part of the Federal Reserve Bank's Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit) provides some surprising insights into the extent of these burdens. The study, based on data from Equifax ...

Regulations Against Cell Phone Use by Commercial Drivers

2012-05-12

The Department of Transportation has taken many steps to limit the distractions commercial drivers face while behind the wheel in an effort to increase the safety of the nation's roadways. As such, drivers of these vehicles, which would include 18-wheelers, are banned from both texting and using hand-held cell phones while driving. If a commercial truck driver is found to be texting or otherwise using a hand-held cell phone in violation of these regulations, new penalties will apply. Each offense could result in a $2,750 fine and drivers found in violation of the regulation ...

Measurable residual disease shows strong potential as an early indicator of survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Chemotherapy and radiation are comparable as pre-transplant conditioning for patients with b-acute lymphoblastic leukemia who have no measurable residual disease

Rutgers team discovers novel approach to stimulate immune cells

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: