Herkinorin Promotes μ-Opioid Receptor Internalization and Protects iPSC-Derived Neurons from Hypoxic/Ischemic Injury

Herkinorin exerts neuroprotective effects in human iPSC-derived neurons subjected to OGD/R, potentially by modulating MOR internalization and influencing mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways. However, its efficacy is restricted to a limited dose range (0.1-1 μM), as higher concentrations are toxic. The receptor subtype-specific trafficking pattern observed in this study underscores the importance of human-relevant models for mechanistic and translational research on opioid receptors.