An Engineered Endomorphin-2 Gene for Morphine Withdrawal Syndrome

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 22;11(3):e0149877. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149877. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

An optimal therapeutics to manage opioid withdrawal syndrome is desired for opioid addiction treatment. Down-regulation of endogenous endomorphin-2 (EM2) level in the central nervous system after continuous morphine exposure was observed, which suggested that increase of EM2 could be an alternative novel method for opioid dependence. As a short peptide, the short half-life of EM2 limits its clinical usage through conventional administration. In the present study, we engineered an EM2 gene using a signal peptide of mouse growth factor for an out-secretory expression of EM2 and an adenovirus as a vector, which ultimately sustained the release of EM-2. After administration of the adenovirus in central nervous system, a sustained increase of EM2 level in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) was observed along with a reduction of morphine withdrawal syndrome. These findings suggest that the engineered EM2 gene delivered to the central nervous system could be a novel therapeutics for withdrawal syndrome in opioid dependent subjects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid / drug effects
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Morphine / adverse effects*
  • Morphine / metabolism
  • Oligopeptides / genetics*
  • Oligopeptides / metabolism
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / metabolism
  • Spinal Cord / drug effects
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / metabolism

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Oligopeptides
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • endomorphin 2
  • Morphine