Detection of opioid growth factor in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a recent prevalent central nervous system disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It is assumed that it is an intermediate immune disorder in the central nervous system and is complex with incomplete etiology. Some research have confirmed that the Opioid growth factor(OGF), which was called chemically Enkephalin [Met5], is considered as a biomarker for the onset of MS. The purpose of this study was to look into the biomarker level of OGF and its correlation with body mass index(BMI) among patients with MS. A total number of 100 patients were diagnosed in two groups (54 early diagnosis of MS without treatment, 46 early diagnosis with treatment) according to McDonald criteria and 50 healthy control groups were included. All demographic data of the study samples were recorded (age, gender), as well as clinical data such as (BMI),and level OGF(serum and saliva) estimated by ELISA method. The current study revealed that the mean+SD of serum OGF in patients with multiple sclerosis for both groups(947.167 ± 134.262 ng/ml) was less concentrated than the control group (1046.642 ± 63.605 ng/ml) with a very large difference (P <0.01). While the mean concentration of OGF in saliva was (960.158 ± 91.684 ng/ml) for patients with multiple sclerosis (early diagnosis group without treatment and the treatment group), its concentration was higher than the control group (880.059 ± 87.700 ng/ml) with a large statistical significance (P <0.01). The current study showed an important correlation between the body mass index and serum OGF level at (p = 0.022) in the early diagnosis group for multiple sclerosis patients with treatment, , while in the early diagnosis group for multiple sclerosis patients without treatment, a very significant association was found between BMI and serum OGF level at (p = 0.009). Interestingly, the current study showed that saliva biomarker (OGF) would be a good predictor for diagnosing MS.

Opioid growth factor and its derivatives as potential non-toxic multifunctional anticancer and analgesic compounds

: Despite significant research progress on the pathogenesis, molecular biology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer its morbidity and mortality is still high around the world. The emerging resistance of cancer cells to anticancer drugs remains still a significant problem in oncology today. Furthermore, an important challenge is the inability of anticancer drugs to selectively target tumor cells thus sparing healthy cells. One of new potential options for efficient and safe therapy can be provided by opioid growth factor (OGF), chemically termed Met-enkephalin. It is an endogenous pentapeptide (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met) with antitumor, analgesic and immune-boosting properties. Clinical trials have demonstrated that OGF therapy alone, as well as in combination with standard chemotherapies, is a safe, non-toxic anticancer agent that reduces tumor size. In this paper, we review the structure-activity relationship of OGF and its analogues. We highlight also OGF derivatives with analgesic, immunomodulatory activity and the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and may be used as a safe agents enhancing chemotherapy efficacy and improving quality of life in cancer patients. The reviewed papers indicate that Met-enkephalin, as well as its analogues are interesting candidates for the development of novel, non-toxic and endowed with an analgesic activity anticancer drugs. More preclinical and clinical studies are needed to explore these opportunities.

Evaluation of Morphine with Imiquimod as Opioid Growth Factor Receptor or Nalmefene as Opioid Blocking Drug on Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania major in Vitro

Background: In this research, the effect of morphine on promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania major has been investigated in the presence of nalmefene as a blocking opioid drug and imiquimod as an opioid growth factor receptor. Methods: This study was conducted at Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran in 2015-2018. Morphine with different concentration (0.1, 1, 10 and 100 1µg/ml) alone and with imiquimod (0.01, 0.1 and 1µg/ml) and nalmefene (0.1, 1 and 10 µg/ml) on promastigotes and amastigotes in macrophages and also the percentage of infected macrophages was investigated. For evaluation of the apoptosis, we used flow cytometry method. The effect of imiquimod and nalmefene on glucantime and amphotericin B as current drugs for treatment of leishmaniasis was evaluated too. Results: The effect of morphine on promastigotes and amastigotes has a reverse relationship with its concentration. The results of flow cytometry for drug-treated promastigotes revealed that apoptosis and necrosis did not increase markedly relative to the control group. A combination of morphine and imiquimod in concentrations of 0.05, 5 and 5 µg/ml had a pronounced effect on reduction and prevention of macrophage infection with amastigotes. Morphine at a concentration of 0.1 µg/ml plays the role of adjunctive treatment. In amastigote assay we found the better results in group that get glucantime 25 µg/ml+ imiquimod 0.5 µg/ml. Conclusion: This effect is strengthened with imiquimod and weakened with nalmefene. Using high dose morphine and nalmefene had reverse effects. They suppress immune system and had no controlling effect in macrophages amastigote infection and reduction of promastigotes.