Olopatadine attenuates the enhancement of capsaicin-evoked substance P release by bradykinin from cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons

Tramadol and its metabolite m1 selectively suppress transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 activity, but not transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 activity

BACKGROUND

The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), which are expressed in sensory neurons, are polymodal nonselective cation channels that sense noxious stimuli. Recent reports showed that these channels play important roles in inflammatory, neuropathic, or cancer pain, suggesting that they may serve as attractive analgesic pharmacological targets. Tramadol is an effective analgesic that is widely used in clinical practice. Reportedly, tramadol and its metabolite (M1) bind to μ-opioid receptors and/or inhibit reuptake of monoamines in the central nervous system, resulting in the activation of the descending inhibitory system. However, the fundamental mechanisms of tramadol in pain control remain unclear. TRPV1 and TRPA1 may be targets of tramadol; however, they have not been studied extensively.

METHODS

We examined whether and how tramadol and M1 act on human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells expressing human TRPV1 (hTRPV1) or hTRPA1 by using a Ca imaging assay and whole-cell patch-clamp recording.

RESULTS

Tramadol and M1 (0.01-10 μM) alone did not increase in intracellular Ca concentration ([Ca]i) in HEK293 cells expressing hTRPV1 or hTRPA1 compared with capsaicin (a TRPV1 agonist) or the allyl isothiocyanate (AITC, a TRPA1 agonist), respectively. Furthermore, in HEK293 cells expressing hTRPV1, pretreatment with tramadol or M1 for 5 minutes did not change the increase in [Ca]i induced by capsaicin. Conversely, pretreatment with tramadol (0.1-10 μM) and M1 (1-10 μM) significantly suppressed the AITC-induced [Ca]i increases in HEK293 cells expressing hTRPA1. In addition, the patch-clamp study showed that pretreatment with tramadol and M1 (10 μM) decreased the inward currents induced by AITC.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that tramadol and M1 selectively inhibit the function of hTRPA1, but not that of hTRPV1, and that hTRPA1 may play a role in the analgesic effects of these compounds.

Activation of the neurokinin-1 receptor by substance P triggers the release of substance P from cultured adult rat dorsal root ganglion neurons

Background

Although substance P (SP) is an important primary afferent modulator in nociceptive processes, it is unclear whether SP regulates its own release from primary sensory neurons.

Results

Using a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay for SP, we have demonstrated that the activation of neurokinin-1 receptor by SP or GR73632 (a potent neurokinin-1 receptor agonist) triggered an increase of SP release from cultured adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons depending on the dose and exposure time within 60 min, and thereafter, the SP release level gradually decreased over 360 min. Accompanying the SP release, a significant reduction in the percentage of neurons expressing neurokinin-1 receptor on their membranes during exposure to SP (200 pg/dish) occurred time dependently (56 ± 5% and 32 ± 2% at 180 and 360 min, respectively). The GR73632-evoked (10 nM, 60 min) SP release was attenuated by several inhibitors for mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), protein kinase C (PKC), respectively. In contrast, a c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase inhibitor increased the GR73632-evoked SP release.

Conclusion

These results indicate that the neurokinin-1 receptor activation by its agonists regulates the SP release process involving the activation of MAP kinases, PKCs and COX-2 from cultured DRG neurons.