Description
Spinorphin is a heptapeptide with the sequence L-V-V-Y-P-W-T. Spinorphin is an endogenous enkephalinase inhibitor, antagonizing enzymes such as aminopeptidase IV, neutral endopeptidase, dipeptidyl peptidase III (DPP3), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE); it also acts as an antagonist at the P2X3 receptor. Spinorphin exhibits antinociceptive, antidepressant, gastrointestinal motility modulating, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities. Spinorphin also acts as an antagonist at N-formylpeptide receptors, preventing binding of chemotactic f-MLF to its receptor on polymorphonuclear (PMN) neutrophils and inhibiting neutrophil functionality.
References
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Liang TS, Gao JL, Fatemi O, et al. The endogenous opioid spinorphin blocks fMet-Leu-Phe-induced neutrophil chemotaxis by acting as a specific antagonist at the N-formylpeptide receptor subtype FPR. J Immunol. 2001 Dec 1;167(11):6609-14. PMID: 11714831.
Nishimura K, Hazato T. Isolation and identification of an endogenous inhibitor of enkephalin-degrading enzymes from bovine spinal cord. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1993 Jul 30;194(2):713-9. PMID: 8343155.
