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Weng HR. Emerging Molecular and Synaptic Targets for the Management of Chronic Pain Caused by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3602. [PMID: 38612414 PMCID: PMC11011483 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) frequently experience chronic pain due to the limited effectiveness and safety profiles of current analgesics. Understanding the molecular and synaptic mechanisms underlying abnormal neuronal activation along the pain signaling pathway is essential for developing new analgesics to address SLE-induced chronic pain. Recent studies, including those conducted by our team and others using the SLE animal model (MRL/lpr lupus-prone mice), have unveiled heightened excitability in nociceptive primary sensory neurons within the dorsal root ganglia and increased glutamatergic synaptic activity in spinal dorsal horn neurons, contributing to the development of chronic pain in mice with SLE. Nociceptive primary sensory neurons in lupus animals exhibit elevated resting membrane potentials, and reduced thresholds and rheobases of action potentials. These changes coincide with the elevated production of TNFα and IL-1β, as well as increased ERK activity in the dorsal root ganglion, coupled with decreased AMPK activity in the same region. Dysregulated AMPK activity is linked to heightened excitability in nociceptive sensory neurons in lupus animals. Additionally, the increased glutamatergic synaptic activity in the spinal dorsal horn in lupus mice with chronic pain is characterized by enhanced presynaptic glutamate release and postsynaptic AMPA receptor activation, alongside the reduced activity of glial glutamate transporters. These alterations are caused by the elevated activities of IL-1β, IL-18, CSF-1, and thrombin, and reduced AMPK activities in the dorsal horn. Furthermore, the pharmacological activation of spinal GPR109A receptors in microglia in lupus mice suppresses chronic pain by inhibiting p38 MAPK activity and the production of both IL-1β and IL-18, as well as reducing glutamatergic synaptic activity in the spinal dorsal horn. These findings collectively unveil crucial signaling molecular and synaptic targets for modulating abnormal neuronal activation in both the periphery and spinal dorsal horn, offering insights into the development of analgesics for managing SLE-induced chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Rong Weng
- Department of Basic Sciences, California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA
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Garcia BREV, Makiyama EN, Sampaio GR, Soares-Freitas RAM, Bonvini A, Amaral AG, Bordin S, Fock RA, Rogero MM. Effects of Branched-Chain Amino Acids on the Inflammatory Response Induced by LPS in Caco-2 Cells. Metabolites 2024; 14:76. [PMID: 38276311 PMCID: PMC10821323 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14010076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are essential for maintaining intestinal mucosal integrity. However, only a few studies have explored the role of BCAA in the modulation of intestinal inflammation. In this study, we investigated in vitro effects of BCAA on the inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 µg/mL) in Caco-2 cells. Caco-2 cells were assigned to six groups: control without BCAA (CTL0), normal BCAA (CTL; 0.8 mM leucine, 0.8 mM isoleucine, and 0.8 mM valine); leucine (LEU; 2 mM leucine), isoleucine (ISO; 2 mM isoleucine), valine (VAL; 2 mM valine), and high BCAA (LIV; 2 mM leucine, 2 mM isoleucine, and 2 mM valine). BCAA was added to the culture medium 24 h before LPS stimulation. Our results indicated that BCAA supplementation did not impair cell viability. The amino acids leucine and isoleucine attenuated the synthesis of IL-8 and JNK and NF-kB phosphorylation induced by LPS. Furthermore, neither BCAA supplementation nor LPS treatment modulated the activity of glutathione peroxidase or the intracellular reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio. Therefore, leucine and isoleucine exert anti-inflammatory effects in Caco-2 cells exposed to LPS by modulating JNK and NF-kB phosphorylation and IL-8 production. Further in vivo studies are required to validate these findings and gather valuable information for potential therapeutic or dietary interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Ruschel Ewald Vega Garcia
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil; (B.R.E.V.G.); (G.R.S.); (R.A.M.S.-F.)
| | - Edson Naoto Makiyama
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (E.N.M.); (R.A.F.)
| | - Geni Rodrigues Sampaio
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil; (B.R.E.V.G.); (G.R.S.); (R.A.M.S.-F.)
| | | | - Andrea Bonvini
- Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Andressa Godoy Amaral
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (A.G.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Silvana Bordin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (A.G.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Ricardo Ambrósio Fock
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (E.N.M.); (R.A.F.)
| | - Marcelo Macedo Rogero
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil; (B.R.E.V.G.); (G.R.S.); (R.A.M.S.-F.)
- Food Research Center (FoRC), CEPID-FAPESP (Research Innovation and Dissemination Centers São Paulo Research Foundation), São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
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Marín-Prida J, Rodríguez-Ulloa A, Besada V, Llopiz-Arzuaga A, Batista NV, Hernández-González I, Pavón-Fuentes N, Marciano Vieira ÉL, Falcón-Cama V, Acosta EF, Martínez-Donato G, Cervantes-Llanos M, Lingfeng D, González LJ, Fernández-Massó JR, Guillén-Nieto G, Pentón-Arias E, Amaral FA, Teixeira MM, Pentón-Rol G. The effects of Phycocyanobilin on experimental arthritis involve the reduction in nociception and synovial neutrophil infiltration, inhibition of cytokine production, and modulation of the neuronal proteome. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1227268. [PMID: 37936684 PMCID: PMC10627171 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1227268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The antinociceptive and pharmacological activities of C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) and Phycocyanobilin (PCB) in the context of inflammatory arthritis remain unexplored so far. In the present study, we aimed to assess the protective actions of these compounds in an experimental mice model that replicates key aspects of human rheumatoid arthritis. Methods Antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) was established by intradermal injection of methylated bovine serum albumin in C57BL/6 mice, and one hour before the antigen challenge, either C-PC (2, 4, or 8 mg/kg) or PCB (0.1 or 1 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally. Proteome profiling was also conducted on glutamate-exposed SH-SY5Y neuronal cells to evaluate the PCB impact on this key signaling pathway associated with nociceptive neuronal sensitization. Results and discussion C-PC and PCB notably ameliorated hypernociception, synovial neutrophil infiltration, myeloperoxidase activity, and the periarticular cytokine concentration of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17A, and IL-4 dose-dependently in AIA mice. In addition, 1 mg/kg PCB downregulated the gene expression for T-bet, RORγ, and IFN-γ in the popliteal lymph nodes, accompanied by a significant reduction in the pathological arthritic index of AIA mice. Noteworthy, neuronal proteome analysis revealed that PCB modulated biological processes such as pain, inflammation, and glutamatergic transmission, all of which are involved in arthritic pathology. Conclusions These findings demonstrate the remarkable efficacy of PCB in alleviating the nociception and inflammation in the AIA mice model and shed new light on mechanisms underlying the PCB modulation of the neuronal proteome. This research work opens a new avenue to explore the translational potential of PCB in developing a therapeutic strategy for inflammation and pain in rheumatoid arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Marín-Prida
- Center for Research and Biological Evaluations, Institute of Pharmacy and Food, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba
| | - Arielis Rodríguez-Ulloa
- Division of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Vladimir Besada
- Division of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
- China-Cuba Biotechnology Joint Innovation Center (CCBJIC), Yongzhou Zhong Gu Biotechnology Co. Ltd, Yongzhou, China
| | - Alexey Llopiz-Arzuaga
- Division of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
- Department of Cellular Engineering and Biocatalysis , Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Nathália Vieira Batista
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Nancy Pavón-Fuentes
- Immunochemical Department, International Center for Neurological Restoration (CIREN), Havana, Cuba
| | - Érica Leandro Marciano Vieira
- Translational Psychoneuroimmunology Group, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Viviana Falcón-Cama
- Division of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
- Departments of Physiological or Morphological Sciences, Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Emilio F. Acosta
- Department of Characterization, Center for Advanced Studies of Cuba, Havana, Cuba
| | - Gillian Martínez-Donato
- Division of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Majel Cervantes-Llanos
- Division of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Dai Lingfeng
- China-Cuba Biotechnology Joint Innovation Center (CCBJIC), Yongzhou Zhong Gu Biotechnology Co. Ltd, Yongzhou, China
| | - Luis J. González
- Division of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Gerardo Guillén-Nieto
- Division of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
- Departments of Physiological or Morphological Sciences, Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Eduardo Pentón-Arias
- Division of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
- Departments of Physiological or Morphological Sciences, Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Flávio Almeida Amaral
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mauro Martins Teixeira
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Giselle Pentón-Rol
- Division of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
- Departments of Physiological or Morphological Sciences, Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM), Havana, Cuba
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