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Kovács A, Szabó E, László K, Kertes E, Zagorácz O, Mintál K, Tóth A, Gálosi R, Berta B, Lénárd L, Hormay E, László B, Zelena D, Tóth ZE. Brain RFamide Neuropeptides in Stress-Related Psychopathologies. Cells 2024; 13:1097. [PMID: 38994950 DOI: 10.3390/cells13131097] [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: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The RFamide peptide family is a group of proteins that share a common C-terminal arginine-phenylalanine-amide motif. To date, the family comprises five groups in mammals: neuropeptide FF, LPXRFamides/RFamide-related peptides, prolactin releasing peptide, QRFP, and kisspeptins. Different RFamide peptides have their own cognate receptors and are produced by different cell populations, although they all can also bind to neuropeptide FF receptors with different affinities. RFamide peptides function in the brain as neuropeptides regulating key aspects of homeostasis such as energy balance, reproduction, and cardiovascular function. Furthermore, they are involved in the organization of the stress response including modulation of pain. Considering the interaction between stress and various parameters of homeostasis, the role of RFamide peptides may be critical in the development of stress-related neuropathologies. This review will therefore focus on the role of RFamide peptides as possible key hubs in stress and stress-related psychopathologies. The neurotransmitter coexpression profile of RFamide-producing cells is also discussed, highlighting its potential functional significance. The development of novel pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of stress-related disorders is an ongoing need. Thus, the importance of RFamide research is underlined by the emergence of peptidergic and G-protein coupled receptor-based therapeutic targets in the pharmaceutical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Kovács
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Evelin Szabó
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Kristóf László
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Erika Kertes
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Olga Zagorácz
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Kitti Mintál
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Attila Tóth
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Rita Gálosi
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Bea Berta
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - László Lénárd
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Edina Hormay
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Bettina László
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Dóra Zelena
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna E Tóth
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, H1094 Budapest, Hungary
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Chen Q, Zhao M, Dong J, Yang K. Chronic restraint stress-induced hyperalgesia is modulated by the periaqueductal gray neurons projecting to the rostral ventromedial medulla in mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 710:149875. [PMID: 38604073 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Stress-induced hyperalgesia (SIH) is induced by repeated or chronic exposure to stressful or uncomfortable environments. However, the neural mechanisms involved in the modulatory effects of the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and its associated loops on SIH development hav e not been elucidated. In the present study, we used chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced hyperalgesia as a SIH model and manipulated neuronal activity via a pharmacogenetic approach to investigate the neural mechanism underlying the effects of descending pain-modulatory pathways on SIH. We found that activation of PAG neurons alleviates CRS-induced hyperalgesia; on the other hand, PAG neurons inhibition facilitates CRS-induced hyperalgesia. Moreover, this modulatory effect is achieved by the neurons which projecting to the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM). Our data thus reveal the functional role of the PAG-RVM circuit in SIH and provide analgesic targets in the brain for clinical SIH treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Chen
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Mingwei Zhao
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Jiaxue Dong
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China; Department of Pathology, Xinyang Central Hospital, Xinyang, Henan, 464099, China
| | - Kun Yang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China; Department of Anatomy, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, 266113, China.
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Værøy H, Takhlidjt S, Cherifi Y, Lahaye E, Chartrel N, Fetissov SO. Blood Levels of Neuropeptide 26RFa in Relation to Anxiety and Aggressive Behavior in Humans-An Exploratory Study. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020237. [PMID: 36831780 PMCID: PMC9954400 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
26RFa, also referred to as QRFP, is a hypothalamic neuropeptide mainly known for its role in the regulation of appetite and glucose metabolism. Its possible relevance to emotional regulation is largely unexplored. To address this, in the present exploratory study, we analyzed the plasma concentrations of 26RFa in humans characterized by different levels of anxiety and aggressive behavior. For this purpose, the study included 13 prison inmates who have committed violent crimes and 19 age-matched healthy men from the general population as controls. Anxiety, depression and aggressive behavior were evaluated in both groups using standard questionnaires. The inmate group was characterized by increased aggression and anxiety compared to the controls. We found that the mean plasma levels of 26RFa did not significantly differ between the inmates and the controls. However, several high outliers were present only in the inmate group. The plasma levels of 26RFa correlated positively with the anxiety scores in all the studied subjects and controls. After removing the high outliers in the inmate group, positive correlations of 26RFa with anxiety and a subscale of hostility in the aggression scale were also recorded in this group. No significant correlations of 26RFa with depression scores or other parameters of aggressive behavior were found. Thus, the present results did not support an involvement of 26RFa in aggressive behavior in humans but pointed to a link between this neuropeptide and anxiety. Nevertheless, considering the exploratory nature of the present study, this conclusion should be verified in a larger cohort, including the clinical degree of anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henning Værøy
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Akershus University Hospital, N-1478 Nordbyhagen, Norway
| | - Saloua Takhlidjt
- Regulatory Peptides-Energy Metabolism and Motivated Behavior Team, Neuroendocrine, Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication Laboratory, Inserm UMR1239, University of Rouen Normandie, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Yamina Cherifi
- Regulatory Peptides-Energy Metabolism and Motivated Behavior Team, Neuroendocrine, Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication Laboratory, Inserm UMR1239, University of Rouen Normandie, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Emilie Lahaye
- Regulatory Peptides-Energy Metabolism and Motivated Behavior Team, Neuroendocrine, Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication Laboratory, Inserm UMR1239, University of Rouen Normandie, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Nicolas Chartrel
- Regulatory Peptides-Energy Metabolism and Motivated Behavior Team, Neuroendocrine, Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication Laboratory, Inserm UMR1239, University of Rouen Normandie, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Serguei O. Fetissov
- Regulatory Peptides-Energy Metabolism and Motivated Behavior Team, Neuroendocrine, Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication Laboratory, Inserm UMR1239, University of Rouen Normandie, 76000 Rouen, France
- Correspondence:
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Point-Substitution of Phenylalanine Residues of 26RFa Neuropeptide: A Structure-Activity Relationship Study. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26144312. [PMID: 34299587 PMCID: PMC8307317 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26144312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
26RFa is a neuropeptide that activates the rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptor QRFPR/GPR103. This peptidergic system is involved in the regulation of a wide array of physiological processes including feeding behavior and glucose homeostasis. Herein, the pharmacological profile of a homogenous library of QRFPR-targeting peptide derivatives was investigated in vitro on human QRFPR-transfected cells with the aim to provide possible insights into the structural determinants of the Phe residues to govern receptor activation. Our work advocates to include in next generations of 26RFa(20–26)-based QRFPR agonists effective substitutions for each Phe unit, i.e., replacement of the Phe22 residue by a constrained 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid moiety, and substitution of both Phe24 and Phe26 by their para-chloro counterpart. Taken as a whole, this study emphasizes that optimized modifications in the C-terminal part of 26RFa are mandatory to design selective and potent peptide agonists for human QRFPR.
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Siemian JN, Arenivar MA, Sarsfield S, Borja CB, Erbaugh LJ, Eagle AL, Robison AJ, Leinninger G, Aponte Y. An excitatory lateral hypothalamic circuit orchestrating pain behaviors in mice. eLife 2021; 10:e66446. [PMID: 34042586 PMCID: PMC8159376 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how neuronal circuits control nociceptive processing will advance the search for novel analgesics. We use functional imaging to demonstrate that lateral hypothalamic parvalbumin-positive (LHPV) glutamatergic neurons respond to acute thermal stimuli and a persistent inflammatory irritant. Moreover, their chemogenetic modulation alters both pain-related behavioral adaptations and the unpleasantness of a noxious stimulus. In two models of persistent pain, optogenetic activation of LHPV neurons or their ventrolateral periaqueductal gray area (vlPAG) axonal projections attenuates nociception, and neuroanatomical tracing reveals that LHPV neurons preferentially target glutamatergic over GABAergic neurons in the vlPAG. By contrast, LHPV projections to the lateral habenula regulate aversion but not nociception. Finally, we find that LHPV activation evokes additive to synergistic antinociceptive interactions with morphine and restores morphine antinociception following the development of morphine tolerance. Our findings identify LHPV neurons as a lateral hypothalamic cell type involved in nociception and demonstrate their potential as a target for analgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin N Siemian
- Neuronal Circuits and Behavior Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Miguel A Arenivar
- Neuronal Circuits and Behavior Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Sarah Sarsfield
- Neuronal Circuits and Behavior Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Cara B Borja
- Neuronal Circuits and Behavior Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Lydia J Erbaugh
- Neuronal Circuits and Behavior Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Andrew L Eagle
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State UniversityEast LansingUnited States
| | - Alfred J Robison
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State UniversityEast LansingUnited States
| | - Gina Leinninger
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State UniversityEast LansingUnited States
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology at Michigan State UniversityEast LansingUnited States
| | - Yeka Aponte
- Neuronal Circuits and Behavior Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of HealthBaltimoreUnited States
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
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Abstract
Migraine is the leading cause of years lost due to disability in individuals aged 15 to 49 years. Much has changed over the last three decades about our understanding of this complex neurological disorder. Various phases of migraine have been characterized and are the focus of this review. The premonitory phase involves bothersome symptoms experienced hours to days before migraine pain. Behavioral changes and functional neuroimaging studies point toward hypothalamic involvement during the premonitory and other migraine phases. Migraine aura is a disruptive, reversible neurological phenomenon that affects up to one-third of all migraineurs, and can overlap with the headache phase. The mechanism responsible for this phase is thought to be cortical spreading depolarization through the cortex. This process leads to temporary disruptions in ion homeostasis and the ensuing neuronal dysfunction. The headache phase involves activation of the trigeminocervical complex. Neuropeptides are implicated in trigeminal activation, and calcitonin gene-related peptide in particular has become a promising target of therapeutic intervention for migraine. The final phase of migraine is the postdrome, the period of time from the resolution of headache symptoms until return to baseline following a migraine. People often report neuropsychiatric, sensory, gastrointestinal, and general symptoms during this time, which can limit activity. Elucidating the neuroanatomical, chemical, and neuroimaging correlates of these migraine phases allows for an improved comprehension of the underlying changes associated with migraine symptomatology and can assist with evaluation of arising therapeutics for migraine management.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Qubty
- Pediatric Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
| | - Irene Patniyot
- Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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Harris HN, Peng YB. Evidence and explanation for the involvement of the nucleus accumbens in pain processing. Neural Regen Res 2020; 15:597-605. [PMID: 31638081 PMCID: PMC6975138 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.266909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a subcortical brain structure known primarily for its roles in pleasure, reward, and addiction. Despite less focus on the NAc in pain research, it also plays a large role in the mediation of pain and is effective as a source of analgesia. Evidence for this involvement lies in the NAc’s cortical connections, functions, pharmacology, and therapeutic targeting. The NAc projects to and receives information from notable pain structures, such as the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, periaqueductal gray, habenula, thalamus, etc. Additionally, the NAc and other pain-modulating structures share functions involving opioid regulation and motivational and emotional processing, which each work beyond simply the rewarding experience of pain offset. Pharmacologically speaking, the NAc responds heavily to painful stimuli, due to its high density of μ opioid receptors and the activation of several different neurotransmitter systems in the NAc, such as opioids, dopamine, calcitonin gene-related peptide, γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, and substance P, each of which have been shown to elicit analgesic effects. In both preclinical and clinical models, deep brain stimulation of the NAc has elicited successful analgesia. The multi-functional NAc is important in motivational behavior, and the motivation for avoiding pain is just as important to survival as the motivation for seeking pleasure. It is possible, then, that the NAc must be involved in both pleasure and pain in order to help determine the motivational salience of positive and negative events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley N Harris
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Yuan B Peng
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
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