Regulation of μ-opioid receptors: Desensitization, phosphorylation, internalization, and tolerance

John T. Williams, Susan L. Ingram, Graeme Henderson, Charles Chavkin, Mark von Zastrow, Stefan Schulz, Thomas Koch, Christopher J. Evans, MacDonald J. Christie

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

598 Scopus citations

Abstract

Morphine and related m-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists remain among the most effective drugs known for acute relief of severe pain. A major problem in treating painful conditions is that tolerance limits the long-term utility of opioid agonists. Considerable effort has been expended on developing an understanding of the molecular and cellular processes that underlie acute MOR signaling, short-term receptor regulation, and the progression of events that lead to tolerance for different MOR agonists. Although great progress has been made in the past decade, many points of contention and controversy cloud the realization of this progress. This review attempts to clarify some confusion by clearly defining terms, such as desensitization and tolerance, and addressing optimal pharmacological analyses for discerning relative importance of these cellular mechanisms. Cellular and molecular mechanisms regulatingMORfunction by phosphorylation relative to receptor desensitization and endocytosis are comprehensively reviewed, with an emphasis on agonistbiased regulation and areas where knowledge is lacking or controversial. The implications of these mechanisms for understanding the substantial contribution of MOR signaling to opioid tolerance are then considered in detail. While some functional MOR regulatory mechanisms contributing to tolerance are clearly understood, there are large gaps in understanding the molecular processes responsible for loss of MOR function after chronic exposure to opioids. Further elucidation of the cellular mechanisms that are regulated by opioids will be necessary for the successful development of MORbased approaches to new pain therapeutics that limit the development of tolerance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)223-254
Number of pages32
JournalPharmacological Reviews
Volume65
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Pharmacology

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