Role of opioid receptor like-1 receptor in modulation of endocrine, immunological, and behavioral responses to the T-cell superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A

Mallimo, Elyse M.; Ansonoff, Mike A.; Pintar, John E.; Kusnecov, Alexander W.

doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2009.10.014

« Previous Next »Journal of Neuroimmunology
Volume 218, Issue 1 , Pages 48-56, 25 January 2010

Role of opioid receptor like-1 receptor in modulation of endocrine, immunological, and behavioral responses to the T-cell superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A

Elyse M. Mallimo
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Rutgers University, 152 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
Mike A. Ansonoff
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 683 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
John E. Pintar
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 683 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
Alexander W. Kusnecov
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Rutgers University, 152 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
- Corresponding author. Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Rutgers University, 152 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States. Tel.: +1 732 445 3473; fax: +1 732 445 2263.

Received 20 August 2009; received in revised form 17 October 2009; accepted 19 October 2009. published online 16 November 2009.

Abstract

Opioid receptor like-1 receptor (ORL₁) is selective for orphaninFQ/nociceptin (OFQ/N), a peptide linked to stress. Since immunologic stimuli exert stressor-like effects, the neuroendocrine and behavioral effects of the T-cell superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) were tested in ORL₁^−/− and ORL₁^+/+ wildtype 129S6 mice. Within 2h of SEA challenge both genotypes showed elevated corticosterone, but only wildtypes were elevated after 4h, and had altered hypothalamic CRH mRNA. Although amygdaloid CRH and TNFα mRNA was increased by SEA, this did not vary with genotype. Interestingly, gustatory neophobia due to SEA challenge was augmented in ORL₁^−/− mice, although object neophobia tested 4days later was abrogated. These results suggest differential requirements for ORL₁ in the mediation of neuroimmune effects exerted at different times after an immune challenge.