Detection of κ-opioid receptor mRNA in immature T cells

Abstract

The R1.1 cell line has been shown to express κ-opioid receptors on the cell surface. Our analysis shows that the R1.1 cell line exhibits a CD4(NEG) CD8(NEG) CD3(LOW) CD25(LOW) cell surface phenotype, characteristic of thymocytes in one of the early stages of differentiation. We have developed reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) conditions that permit the detection of mRNA coding for the κ-receptor. Using cell fractionation techniques we have isolated CD4(NEG) CD8(NEG) thymocytes, and analysis by RT-PCR shows that these primary immature thymocytes also express the κ-opioid receptor. We hypothesize that the expression of κ-opioid receptor may be a marker which is characteristic of immature T development.