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Hsieh YL, Fan YC, Yang CC. Low-level laser therapy alleviates mechanical and cold allodynia induced by oxaliplatin administration in rats. Support Care Cancer 2015; 24:233-242. [DOI: 10.1007/s00520-015-2773-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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De Petrocellis L, Ortar G, Schiano Moriello A, Serum EM, Rusterholz DB. Structure-activity relationships of the prototypical TRPM8 agonist icilin. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2015; 25:2285-90. [PMID: 25935641 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Revised: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
A series of structural analogues of the TRPM8 agonist icilin was prepared. The compounds were examined for their ability to exert agonist or antagonist effects in HEK-293 cells expressing the TRPM8 receptor. Most structural modifications of the icilin structure largely met with diminished TRPM8 agonist activity. Cinnamamide 'open-chain' analogs of icilin, however, demonstrated significant antagonistic actions at the TRPM8 receptor. Optimal potency (IC50=73 nM) was observed in the 3-iodo derivative 18l.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano De Petrocellis
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Comprensorio Olivetti, 80078 Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy.
| | - Giorgio Ortar
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza-Università di Roma, piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Aniello Schiano Moriello
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Comprensorio Olivetti, 80078 Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Eric M Serum
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, United States
| | - David B Rusterholz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 410 S. Third St., River Falls, WI 54022, United States
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53
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Zhang E, Liao P. Brain transient receptor potential channels and stroke. J Neurosci Res 2014; 93:1165-83. [PMID: 25502473 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have been increasingly implicated in the pathological mechanisms of CNS disorders. TRP expression has been detected in neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, and ependymal cells as well as in the cerebral vascular endothelium and smooth muscle. In stroke, TRPC3/4/6, TRPM2/4/7, and TRPV1/3/4 channels have been found to participate in ischemia-induced cell death, whereas other TRP channels, in particular those expressed in nonneuronal cells, have been less well studied. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the expression and functions of the TRP channels in various cell types in the brain and our current understanding of TRP channels in stroke pathophysiology. In an aging society, the occurrence of stroke is expected to increase steadily, and there is an urgent requirement to improve the current stroke management strategy. Therefore, elucidating the roles of TRP channels in stroke could shed light on the development of novel therapeutic strategies and ultimately improve stroke outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Zhang
- Calcium Signalling Laboratory, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore
| | - Ping Liao
- Calcium Signalling Laboratory, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, Singapore
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Khajavi N, Reinach PS, Slavi N, Skrzypski M, Lucius A, Strauß O, Köhrle J, Mergler S. Thyronamine induces TRPM8 channel activation in human conjunctival epithelial cells. Cell Signal 2014; 27:315-25. [PMID: 25460045 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2014.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Revised: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
3-Iodothyronamine (T1AM), an endogenous thyroid hormone (TH) metabolite, induces numerous responses including a spontaneously reversible body temperature decline. As such an effect is associated in the eye with increases in basal tear flow and thermosensitive transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) channel activation, we determined in human conjunctival epithelial cells (IOBA-NHC) if T1AM also acts as a cooling agent to directly affect TRPM8 activation at a constant temperature. RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) along with immunocytochemistry probed for TRPM8 gene and protein expression whereas functional activity was evaluated by comparing the effects of T1AM with those of TRPM8 mediators on intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i) and whole-cell currents. TRPM8 gene and protein expression was evident and icilin (20μM), a TRPM8 agonist, increased Ca(2+) influx as well as whole-cell currents whereas BCTC (10μM), a TRPM8 antagonist, suppressed these effects. Similarly, either temperature lowering below 23°C or T1AM (1μM) induced Ca(2+) transients that were blocked by this antagonist. TRPM8 activation by both 1µM T1AM and 20μM icilin prevented capsaicin (CAP) (20μM) from inducing increases in Ca(2+) influx through TRP vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) activation, whereas BCTC did not block this response. CAP (20μM) induced a 2.5-fold increase in IL-6 release whereas during exposure to 20μM capsazepine this rise was completely blocked. Similarly, T1AM (1μM) prevented this response. Taken together, T1AM like icilin is a cooling agent since they both directly elicit TRPM8 activation at a constant temperature. Moreover, there is an inverse association between changes in TRPM8 and TRPV1 activity since these cooling agents blocked both CAP-induced TRPV1 activation and downstream rises in IL-6 release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noushafarin Khajavi
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter S Reinach
- Biological Sciences, SUNY College of Optometry, New York, NY 10036, USA; School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, PR China
| | - Nefeli Slavi
- Biological Sciences, SUNY College of Optometry, New York, NY 10036, USA
| | - Marek Skrzypski
- Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
| | - Alexander Lucius
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Olaf Strauß
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Josef Köhrle
- Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Mergler
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany.
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Angelova-Fischer I, Neufang G, Jung K, Fischer TW, Zillikens D. A randomized, investigator-blinded efficacy assessment study of stand-alone emollient use in mild to moderately severe atopic dermatitis flares. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2014; 28 Suppl 3:9-15. [PMID: 24702445 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.12479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whereas emollients are integral to the long-term management of atopic dermatitis (AD), the evidence for their efficacy in disease flares is limited. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the stand-alone efficacy of an emollient formulation with regard to improvement of the clinical symptoms, skin barrier function and reduction of pathogenic bacterial colonization in acute stage of AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty AD volunteers aged 12-65 years with symmetric, mild to moderately severe inflammatory lesions on the forearms/arms were recruited for the study. At inclusion, the forearms/arms of each volunteer were randomized to receive for 1 week either an o/w formulation containing licochalcone A (Glycyrrhiza Inflata root extract), decanediol, menthoxypropanediol and ω-6-fatty acids (emollient arm) or 1% hydrocortisone (HC arm); after 1 week, the application of the emollient and HC were discontinued and the volunteers applied a w/o emollient containing licochalcone A and ω-6-fatty acids on both arms for further 3 weeks. The outcomes included reduction of the clinical and itch severity, decrease in S.aureus colonization, improvement of the barrier function, skin hydration and skin tolerability assessed after 1 week (D7) and after 4 weeks (D28) respectively. RESULTS In both arms, there was a significant decrease in the severity score, itch intensity, erythema and TEWL on D7 and D28 compared to baseline. In addition, emollient use resulted in pronounced decrease in S.aureus colonization and significant increase of skin hydration on D7. The comparison of the outcomes, based on percentage change from baseline, showed no significant differences between the emollient and HC arm at any time point. CONCLUSIONS The results of the study indicate that the 1-week stand-alone application of an emollient, tailored to target inflammation, pruritus, compromised barrier function and pathogenic bacterial colonization may offer benefit for the improvement of mild to moderately severe localized flares of AD.
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Tsai KS, Chen YH, Chen HY, Shen EY, Lee YC, Shen JL, Wu SY, Lin JG, Chen YH, Chen WC. Antipruritic effect of cold stimulation at the Quchi acupoint (LI11) in mice. Altern Ther Health Med 2014; 14:341. [PMID: 25239797 PMCID: PMC4179855 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Acupuncture and moxibustion are used to treat pruritus and atopic dermatitis. However, whether cold stimulation (defined as that the temperature conducted under skin temperature) of acupoints affects itching in experimental murine models remains unclear. Methods The present study was designed to determine the therapeutic effects of different thermal stimulations at the Quchi acupoint (LI11) in a murine model in which scratching behaviour was elicited by subcutaneous injection with a pruritogenic agent (compound 48/80). Male ICR mice were divided into several groups as follows: control (saline), those receiving compound 48/80 and compound 48/80 with various thermal stimulations (5°C–45°C) at LI11 (n = 6 per group). The scratch response of each animal to these stimulations was recorded for 30 min. The antipruritic effect of the acupoint was further evaluated in LI11 and sham (non-acupoint) groups (n = 6 per group). Results Treatment with lower temperature (20°C) at the LI11 acupoint significantly attenuated compound 48/80-induced scratching; however, this antipruritic effect was not observed with stimulation at the sham point. The expression of c-fos in the neuron of the cervical spine induced by compound 48/80 was suppressed by cold stimulation at LI11. The antipruritic effect of cold stimulation was blocked by ruthium red (RR), a non-selective transient receptor potential (TRP) channel blocker, suggesting that TRP channels may play an important role in the antipruritic effect of cold stimulation at LI11 in mice. Conclusions This study demonstrated that cold stimulation at LI11 attenuated compound 48/80-induced scratching behaviour in mice, possibly by a TRP-related pathway.
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Nielsen N, Lindemann O, Schwab A. TRP channels and STIM/ORAI proteins: sensors and effectors of cancer and stroma cell migration. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 171:5524-40. [PMID: 24724725 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Revised: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Cancer cells are strongly influenced by host cells within the tumour stroma and vice versa. This leads to the development of a tumour microenvironment with distinct physical and chemical properties that are permissive for tumour progression. The ability to migrate plays a central role in this mutual interaction. Migration of cancer cells is considered as a prerequisite for tumour metastasis and the migration of host stromal cells is required for reaching the tumour site. Increasing evidence suggests that transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and STIM/ORAI proteins affect key calcium-dependent mechanisms implicated in both cancer and stroma cell migration. These include, among others, cytoskeletal remodelling, growth factor/cytokine signalling and production, and adaptation to tumour microenvironmental properties such as hypoxia and oxidative stress. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge regarding TRP channels and STIM/ORAI proteins in cancer and stroma cell migration. We focus on how TRP channel or STIM/ORAI-mediated Ca(2+) signalling directly or indirectly influences cancer and stroma cell migration by affecting the above listed mechanisms. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Cytoskeleton, Extracellular Matrix, Cell Migration, Wound Healing and Related Topics. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2014.171.issue-24.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Nielsen
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Li Y, Zhou F, Wen Y, Liu K, Chen L, Mao Y, Yang S, Yi T. (-)-Menthol based thixotropic hydrogel and its application as a universal antibacterial carrier. SOFT MATTER 2014; 10:3077-3085. [PMID: 24695880 DOI: 10.1039/c3sm52999a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A kind of novel hydrogelator based on (-)-menthol, a traditional cooling compound, tailed by an amino acid derivate through an alkyl chain, has been designed and synthesized. The hydrogelator containing an l-lysine can form a stable hydrogel with thixotropic character in a large pH range. An interesting feature is that the viscoelastic character of the hydrogel can be enhanced by mechanical force. The mechanism of the self-assembly process was investigated by means of IR, SEM, AFM and X-ray diffraction. The formation of three dimensional multiporous networks through acid base interactions and strong double hydrogen bonding between amino acids is proposed to be the driving force for the construction of the stable hydrogel. As a result, the hydrogelator can further gelate aqueous solutions of some confirmed antibacterial agents such as Zn(2+) and a series of water soluble organic antibiotic medicines like lincomycin, amoxicillin, etc., in such a unique way that the concentration of the antibacterial agents loaded into the hydrogel can be tuned to a large extent. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the hydrogels loaded with Zn(2+) or lincomycin is much more effective than that of the corresponding aqueous solution tested by the Oxford cup method. Furthermore, the hydrogelator is completely innoxious to living cells by measurement of MTT assay. Thus, the hydrogel can be developed as a universal carrier for antibacterial agents and may also be widely used in the fields of cell culture, tissue engineering, or drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China.
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Fu Y, Zhu W, Zhao X, Hügel H, Wu Z, Su Y, Du Z, Huang D, Hu Y. CuI catalyzed sulfonylation of organozinc reagents with sulfonyl halides. Org Biomol Chem 2014; 12:4295-9. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ob00638k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
A general and efficient CuI/TMEDA catalyzed nucleophilic addition of functionalized organozinc reagents to organic sulfonyl chlorides has been developed for both aromatic and aliphatic sulfone synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Fu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Northwest Normal University
- Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Wenbo Zhu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Northwest Normal University
- Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Xingling Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Northwest Normal University
- Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Helmut Hügel
- Health Innovations Research Institute & School of Applied Sciences
- RMIT University
- Melbourne, Australia
| | - Zhouqiang Wu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Northwest Normal University
- Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Yuhu Su
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Northwest Normal University
- Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Zhengyin Du
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Northwest Normal University
- Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Danfeng Huang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Northwest Normal University
- Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Yulai Hu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Northwest Normal University
- Lanzhou, PR China
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Gohlke BO, Preissner R, Preissner S. SuperPain--a resource on pain-relieving compounds targeting ion channels. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 42:D1107-12. [PMID: 24271391 PMCID: PMC3964982 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt1176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain is more than an unpleasant sensory experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage: it is the most common reason for physician consultation and often dramatically affects quality of life. The management of pain is often difficult and new targets are required for more effective and specific treatment. SuperPain (http://bioinformatics.charite.de/superpain/) is freely available database for pain-stimulating and pain-relieving compounds, which bind or potentially bind to ion channels that are involved in the transmission of pain signals to the central nervous system, such as TRPV1, TRPM8, TRPA1, TREK1, TRESK, hERG, ASIC, P2X and voltage-gated sodium channels. The database consists of ∼8700 ligands, which are characterized by experimentally measured binding affinities. Additionally, 100 000 putative ligands are included. Moreover, the database provides 3D structures of receptors and predicted ligand-binding poses. These binding poses and a structural classification scheme provide hints for the design of new analgesic compounds. A user-friendly graphical interface allows similarity searching, visualization of ligands docked into the receptor, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn O Gohlke
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin, Germany, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Structural Bioinformatics Group, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin, Germany and Dental, Oral and Maxillary Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CC3, Assmannshauser Straße 4-6, 14197 Berlin, Germany
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Du GJ, Li JH, Liu WJ, Liu YH, Zhao B, Li HR, Hou XD, Li H, Qi XX, Duan YJ. The combination of TRPM8 and TRPA1 expression causes an invasive phenotype in lung cancer. Tumour Biol 2013; 35:1251-61. [PMID: 24037916 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-013-1167-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Our recent studies have shown that hypothermic microenvironment promotes tumor progression and that the molecular sensors for cold are the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels TRPM8 and TRPA1. To evaluate the contribution of TRPM8 and TRPA1 to cancer malignancy, we screened cell subpopulations from Lewis lung cancer (LLC) using limiting dilutions and Western blotting. We identified that LLC-1 cells express 3-fold more TRPM8 than TRPA1, LLC-2 cells express TRPM8 at levels similar to TRPA1, and LLC-3 cells express TRPM8 at one-third the level of TRPA1. LLC-2 cells showed greater adhesion, migration, invasiveness and resistance to hypothermia than LLC-1 and LLC-3 cells, although LLC-2 cells had a longer doubling time. TRPM8 or TRPA1 knockdown using siRNA promoted cell proliferation and decreased adhesion and invasiveness in LLC-2 cells. When assessed for UCP2 staining, LLC-1 cells showed increased staining compared to LLC-2 cells, both of which had more UCP2-positive cells than the LLC-3 subpopulation. In an autophagy assay, hypothermia induced substantially less autophagy in LLC-1 cells than in LLC-2 cells, which displayed decreased autophagy compared to LLC-3 cells. Moreover, mice injected with LLC-2 cells had significantly more spontaneous and experimental lung metastases and a shorter overall survival time than mice injected with LLC-1 or LLC-3 cells. Importantly, LLC-2 cells were also more resistant to activated spleen CTL and the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin than LLC-1 and LLC-3 cells in vitro. Collectively, our data suggest that TRPM8 induces UCP2 to trigger metabolic transformation, whereas TRPA1 induces autophagy during adverse conditions, and the combination of both genes contributes directly to an invasive phenotype in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang-Jun Du
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmacy College of Henan University, Jinming street, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan Province, China,
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Andersen H, Olsen R, Møller H, Eskelund P, Gazerani P, Arendt-Nielsen L. A review of topical high-concentration L-menthol as a translational model of cold allodynia and hyperalgesia. Eur J Pain 2013; 18:315-25. [DOI: 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2013.00380.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H.H. Andersen
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI); Department of Health Science and Technology; Faculty of Medicine; Aalborg University; Denmark
| | - R.V. Olsen
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI); Department of Health Science and Technology; Faculty of Medicine; Aalborg University; Denmark
| | - H.G. Møller
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI); Department of Health Science and Technology; Faculty of Medicine; Aalborg University; Denmark
| | - P.W. Eskelund
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI); Department of Health Science and Technology; Faculty of Medicine; Aalborg University; Denmark
| | - P. Gazerani
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI); Department of Health Science and Technology; Faculty of Medicine; Aalborg University; Denmark
| | - L. Arendt-Nielsen
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI); Department of Health Science and Technology; Faculty of Medicine; Aalborg University; Denmark
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic pruritus (CP), defined as itch lasting for > 6 weeks, is a burdensome symptom of several different diseases, dermatological and systemic, with a high negative impact on the quality of life of patients. Given the manifold aetiologies of CP, therapy is often difficult. In recent years, however, novel substances have been developed for treatment of certain CP entities and identified targets. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors present a survey of targets currently believed to be promising (H4R, IL-31, MOR, KOR, GRPR, NGF, NK-1R, TRP channels) and related investigational drugs that are in the preclinical or clinical stage of development. Some substances have already undergone clinical testing, but only one of them (nalfurafine) has been licensed so far. Many of them are most likely to exert their effects on the skin and interfere there with the cutaneous neurobiology of CP. EXPERT OPINION Currently, the most promising candidates for new therapeutic agents in CP are neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists and substances targeting the kappa- or mu-opioid receptor, or both. They have the potential to target the neuronal pathway of CP and are thus of interest for several CP entities. The goal for the coming years is to validate these concepts and move forward in developing new drugs for the therapy of CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heike Benecke
- University Medicine Göttingen, Center Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
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