Ogfr, the opioid growth factor receptor, is a key component in the OGF-OGFr regulatory pathway. The native opioid growth factor (OGF), [Met(5)]-enkephalin, binds to OGFr. This pathway is involved in diverse biological processes such as cell proliferation, tissue organization during development, cancer, cellular renewal, wound healing, and angiogenesis [4].

Silencing OGFR through gene knockout effectively alleviated doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in mice, suggesting that the OGF/OGFR/P21 axis facilitates cardiomyocyte apoptosis related to doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity [1]. In addition, blockade of the OGF-OGFr pathway using naltrexone in type 1 diabetic rats reversed dry eye symptoms and restored corneal surface sensitivity, and also accelerated some aspects of delayed diabetic fracture repair [2,3].

In conclusion, OGFr plays a significant role in multiple biological processes and disease conditions. Gene knockout models of OGFr have revealed its importance in chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity and diabetic complications, including ocular and bone-related issues. These findings provide potential therapeutic targets for treating such diseases.

References:

1. Chen, Xiru, Jian, Dongdong, Xing, Junyue, Jian, Liguo, Tang, Hao. 2024. Targeting OGF/OGFR signal to mitigate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. In Free radical biology & medicine, 223, 398-412. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.08.005. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39122201/

2. Zagon, Ian S, Sassani, Joseph W, Purushothaman, Indira, McLaughlin, Patricia J. 2020. Blockade of OGFr delays the onset and reduces the severity of diabetic ocular surface complications. In Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.), 246, 629-636. doi:10.1177/1535370220972060. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33203224/

3. Titunick, Michelle B, Lewis, Gregory S, Cain, Jarrett D, Zagon, Ian S, McLaughlin, Patricia J. 2019. Blockade of the OGF-OGFr pathway in diabetic bone. In Connective tissue research, 60, 521-529. doi:10.1080/03008207.2019.1593396. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30931654/

4. Zagon, Ian S, Verderame, Michael F, McLaughlin, Patricia J. . The biology of the opioid growth factor receptor (OGFr). In Brain research. Brain research reviews, 38, 351-76. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11890982/