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Tran H, Sagi V, Jarrett S, Palzer EF, Badgaiyan RD, Gupta K. Diet and companionship modulate pain via a serotonergic mechanism. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2330. [PMID: 33526805 PMCID: PMC7851147 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81654-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of severe chronic and acute pain in sickle cell disease (SCD) remains challenging due to the interdependence of pain and psychosocial modulation. We examined whether modulation of the descending pain pathway through an enriched diet and companionship could alleviate pain in transgenic sickle mice. Mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia were reduced significantly with enriched diet and/or companionship. Upon withdrawal of both conditions, analgesic effects observed prior to withdrawal were diminished. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) was found to be increased in the spinal cords of mice provided both treatments. Additionally, 5-HT production improved at the rostral ventromedial medulla and 5-HT accumulated at the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of sickle mice, suggesting the involvement of the descending pain pathway in the analgesic response. Modulation of 5-HT and its effect on hyperalgesia was also investigated through pharmaceutical approaches. Duloxetine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, showed a similar anti-nociceptive effect as the combination of diet and companionship. Depletion of 5-HT through p-chlorophenylalanine attenuated the anti-hyperalgesic effect of enriched diet and companionship. More significantly, improved diet and companionship enhanced the efficacy of a sub-optimal dose of morphine for analgesia in sickle mice. These findings offer the potential to reduce opioid use without pharmacological interventions to develop effective pain management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huy Tran
- grid.17635.360000000419368657 Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - Varun Sagi
- grid.17635.360000000419368657 Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - Sarita Jarrett
- grid.16753.360000 0001 2299 3507Northwestern University, Evanston, IL USA
| | - Elise F. Palzer
- grid.17635.360000000419368657Biostatistical Design and Analysis Center, Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - Rajendra D. Badgaiyan
- grid.267309.90000 0001 0629 5880Department of Psychiatry, Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas USA
| | - Kalpna Gupta
- grid.17635.360000000419368657 Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA ,Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine and Southern California Institute for Research and Education, VA Medical Center, 5901 East 7th St, Long Beach, CA 90822 USA
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