"Mechanisms for Functional Regulation between Opioid Receptors" 张旭 博士（Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences）-2010.11.30

时间：2010年11月30日 10:00

地点：理科大楼A508

报告题目：Mechanisms for Functional Regulation between Opioid Receptors

报告人：张旭 博士 中国科学院上海生命科学研究院

报告人简介：现任中国科学院上海生命科学研究院神经科学研究研究员，感觉系统研究组组长，兼任中国科学院上海生命科学研究院副院长。主要从事初级感觉神经元的分子和细胞生物学以及痛觉机理研究，在著名的《Cell》、《Neuron》、《PNAS》在内的国际学术期刊上发表研究论文73篇和综述12篇，被引用3981余次。曾获得国家杰出青年科学基金，上海科技进步奖二等奖，上海市自然科学牡丹奖等。

报告简介：Three major types of opioid receptors, μ-, δ- and κ-opioid receptors, are expressed in small DRG neurons and in intrinsic neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The effects of endogenous opioid peptides are mainly mediated by δ-opioid receptors (DORs). Morphine and other opioid analgesics activate μ-opioid receptors (MORs) and produce potent spinal analgesia. Among all of the agents used in pain treatments, opioid analgesics are most efficacious in the control of moderate and severe pain. There are also concerns about the use of opioid analgesics for long-term treatment of pain, because of the risk of development of tolerance and dependence, as well as many adverse effects. An important and unresolved question is the mechanism of opioid tolerance, which is a pharmacological phenomenon that develops with the repeated use of opioids and brings about the need to increase the dose to maintain equipotent analgesic effects. DORs form heteromers with MORs and negatively regulate MOR-mediated spinal analgesia. However, the underlying mechanism remains largely unclear. Our recent study uncovers a mechanism for functional regulation between DORs and MORs, and further provides a potential strategy to improve opioid analgesic therapies.