1
|
Temmermand R, Barrett JE, Fontana ACK. Glutamatergic systems in neuropathic pain and emerging non-opioid therapies. Pharmacol Res 2022; 185:106492. [PMID: 36228868 PMCID: PMC10413816 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain, a disease of the somatosensory nervous system, afflicts many individuals and adequate management with current pharmacotherapies remains elusive. The glutamatergic system of neurons, receptors and transporters are intimately involved in pain but, to date, there have been few drugs developed that therapeutically modulate this system. Glutamate transporters, or excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs), remove excess glutamate around pain transmitting neurons to decrease nociception suggesting that the modulation of glutamate transporters may represent a novel approach to the treatment of pain. This review highlights and summarizes (1) the physiology of the glutamatergic system in neuropathic pain, (2) the preclinical evidence for dysregulation of glutamate transport in animal pain models, and (3) emerging novel therapies that modulate glutamate transporters. Successful drug discovery requires continuous focus on basic and translational methods to fully elucidate the etiologies of this disease to enable the development of targeted therapies. Increasing the efficacy of astrocytic EAATs may serve as a new way to successfully treat those suffering from this devastating disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rhea Temmermand
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - James E Barrett
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Andréia C K Fontana
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sisignano M, Gribbon P, Geisslinger G. Drug Repurposing to Target Neuroinflammation and Sensory Neuron-Dependent Pain. Drugs 2022; 82:357-373. [PMID: 35254645 PMCID: PMC8899787 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-022-01689-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Around 20% of the American population have chronic pain and estimates in other Western countries report similar numbers. This represents a major challenge for global health care systems. Additional problems for the treatment of chronic and persistent pain are the comparably low efficacy of existing therapies, the failure to translate effects observed in preclinical pain models to human patients and related setbacks in clinical trials from previous attempts to develop novel analgesics. Drug repurposing offers an alternative approach to identify novel analgesics as it can bypass various steps of classical drug development. In recent years, several approved drugs were attributed analgesic properties. Here, we review available data and discuss recent findings suggesting that the approved drugs minocycline, fingolimod, pioglitazone, nilotinib, telmisartan, and others, which were originally developed for the treatment of different pathologies, can have analgesic, antihyperalgesic, or neuroprotective effects in preclinical and clinical models of inflammatory or neuropathic pain. For our analysis, we subdivide the drugs into substances that can target neuroinflammation or substances that can act on peripheral sensory neurons, and highlight the proposed mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the merits and challenges of drug repurposing for the development of novel analgesics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Sisignano
- pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. .,Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. .,Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Philip Gribbon
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, ScreeningPort, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525, Hamburg, Germany.,Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Gerd Geisslinger
- pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Baeza-Flores GDC, Rodríguez-Palma EJ, Reyes-Pérez V, Guzmán-Priego CG, Torres-López JE. Antinociceptive effects of ceftriaxone in formalin-induced nociception. Drug Dev Res 2020; 81:728-735. [PMID: 32394536 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.21680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Ceftriaxone (CFX) is a β-lactam antibiotic with analgesic properties. However, its role in the formalin-induced nociception remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antinociceptive effect of CFX in the 1% formalin test in rats. Formalin induced a typical nociceptive response (flinching behavior) of two phases. Local peripheral pretreatment (20 min) with CFX (400-800 μg/paw) slightly attenuated the flinching behavior in phase 2, but not phase 1. Acute intraperitoneal pretreatment (20 min) also reduced phase 2 of the formalin test. In both cases, CFX induced a dose-dependent antinociception. We also tested the effect of CFX 1 day after its administration and in two schedules of repeated administration. One-day pretreatment with CFX (50-400 mg/kg, ip) induced a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect in formalin-treated rats. Repeated administration (daily during 3 or 7 days) with CFX (50-400 mg/kg, ip) diminished formalin-induced nociception. Results suggest that local or systemic as well as single or repeated administration of CFX reduces formalin-induced nociception.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guadalupe Del Carmen Baeza-Flores
- Pain Mechanisms Laboratory, División Académica de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Mexico
| | - Erick J Rodríguez-Palma
- Neurobiology of Pain, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, Sede Sur, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Crystell G Guzmán-Priego
- Pain Mechanisms Laboratory, División Académica de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Mexico
| | - Jorge E Torres-López
- Pain Mechanisms Laboratory, División Académica de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Mexico.,Department of Anaesthetics, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad "Dr. Juan Graham Casasús", Villahermosa, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pajarillo E, Rizor A, Lee J, Aschner M, Lee E. The role of astrocytic glutamate transporters GLT-1 and GLAST in neurological disorders: Potential targets for neurotherapeutics. Neuropharmacology 2019; 161:107559. [PMID: 30851309 PMCID: PMC6731169 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) which initiates rapid signal transmission in the synapse before its re-uptake into the surrounding glia, specifically astrocytes. The astrocytic glutamate transporters glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST) and glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) and their human homologs excitatory amino acid transporter 1 (EAAT1) and 2 (EAAT2), respectively, are the major transporters which take up synaptic glutamate to maintain optimal extracellular glutamic levels, thus preventing accumulation in the synaptic cleft and ensuing excitotoxicity. Growing evidence has shown that excitotoxicity is associated with various neurological disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), manganism, ischemia, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and autism. While the mechanisms of neurological disorders are not well understood, the dysregulation of GLAST/GLT-1 may play a significant role in excitotoxicity and associated neuropathogenesis. The expression and function of GLAST/GLT-1 may be dysregulated at the genetic, epigenetic, transcriptional or translational levels, leading to high levels of extracellular glutamate and excitotoxicity. Consequently, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of GLAST/GLT-1 has been an area of interest in developing therapeutics for the treatment of neurological disorders. Pharmacological agents including β-lactam antibiotics, estrogen/selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), growth factors, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), and translational activators have shown significant efficacy in enhancing the expression and function of GLAST/GLT-1 and glutamate uptake both in vitro and in vivo. This comprehensive review will discuss the regulatory mechanisms of GLAST/GLT-1, their association with neurological disorders, and the pharmacological agents which mediate their expression and function. This article is part of the issue entitled 'Special Issue on Neurotransmitter Transporters'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward Pajarillo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, 32301, USA
| | - Asha Rizor
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, 32301, USA
| | - Jayden Lee
- Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Eunsook Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, 32301, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhang X, Li X, Liu N, Zheng P, Ma L, Guo F, Sun T, Zhou R, Yu J. The Anticonvulsant Effects of Baldrinal on Pilocarpine-Induced convulsion in Adult Male Mice. Molecules 2019; 24:E1617. [PMID: 31022879 PMCID: PMC6514916 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24081617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disorder that was reported to affect about 56 million people in the world. Approximately one-third of the epileptic patients that suffer from seizures do not receive effective medical treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the potential anticonvulsant activities of Baldrinal (BAL) with a mouse model of pilocarpine (PILO)-induced epilepsy. The mice were treated with different doses of BAL or sodium valproate prior to PILO injection. Spontaneous and evoked seizures were evaluated from EEG recordings, and their severity was tested by the Racine scale. In addition, the brain tissues were analyzed for histological changes, and the in situ levels of glutamic acid (Glu) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were also measured. Activation of astrocytes in the hippocampus was measured. PILO-treated mice showed a significant increase in Glu levels, which was restored by BAL. In addition, BAL treatment also reduced the rate of seizures in the epileptic mice, and ameliorated the increased levels of NMDAR1, BDNF, IL-1β and TNF-α. Taken together, BAL has a potential antiepileptic effect, which may be mediated by reducing the inflammatory response in the PILO-induced brain and restoring the balance of GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
| | - Xing Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
| | - Ning Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
| | - Ping Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
| | - Lin Ma
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Diseases of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
| | - Fengying Guo
- College of Basic Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
| | - Tao Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Diseases of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
| | - Ru Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
| | - Jianqiang Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
- Ningxia Hui Medicine Modern Engineering Research Center and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yimer EM, Hishe HZ, Tuem KB. Repurposing of the β-Lactam Antibiotic, Ceftriaxone for Neurological Disorders: A Review. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:236. [PMID: 30971875 PMCID: PMC6444273 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, there is no cure or disease-modifying agents available for most well-known neurological disorders. Current therapy is typically focused on relieving symptoms and supportive care in improving the quality of life of affected patients. Furthermore, the traditional de novo drug discovery technique is more challenging, particularly for neurological disorders. Therefore, the repurposing of existing drugs for these conditions is believed to be an efficient and dynamic approach that can substantially reduce the investments spent on drug development. Currently, there is emerging evidence that suggests the potential effect of a beta-lactam antibiotic, ceftriaxone (CEF), to alleviate the symptoms of different experimentally-induced neurological disorders: Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, epileptic-seizure, brain ischemia, traumatic brain injuries, and neuropathic pain. CEF also affects the markers of oxidative status and neuroinflammation, glutamatergic systems as well as various aggregated toxic proteins involved in the pathogenesis of different neurological disorders. Moreover, it was found that CEF administration to drug dependent animal models improved the withdrawal symptoms upon drug discontinuation. Thus, this review aimed to describe the effects of CEF against multiple models of neurological illnesses, drug dependency, and withdrawal. It also emphasizes the possible mechanisms of neuroprotective actions of CEF with respective neurological maladies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ebrahim M Yimer
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Hailemichael Zeru Hishe
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Kald Beshir Tuem
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sałat K, Furgała A, Sałat R. Interventional and preventive effects of aripiprazole and ceftriaxone used alone or in combination on oxaliplatin-induced tactile and cold allodynia in mice. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 111:882-890. [PMID: 30841467 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a pharmacoresistant neurological complication induced by some antitumor drugs. This study aimed to assess antiallodynic properties of aripiprazole and ceftriaxone used alone or in combination to attenuate neuropathic pain related to CIPN caused by oxaliplatin. METHODS Neuropathic pain was induced in mice by a single intraperitoneal dose of oxaliplatin (10 mg/kg). Aripiprazole and ceftriaxone were used in a single- or repeated dosing protocol. Their antiallodynic activity was assessed using von Frey and cold plate tests on the day of oxaliplatin injection and after 7 days. The influence of aripiprazole and ceftriaxone on animals' locomotor activity and motor coordination was also assessed. RESULTS Single-dose and repeated-dose aripiprazole 10 mg/kg and ceftriaxone 200 mg/kg used alone and in combination attenuated early-phase and late-phase tactile allodynia in oxaliplatin-treated mice. Repeated administrations of ceftriaxone 200 mg/kg prevented the development of late-phase tactile allodynia. Both drugs showed no antiallodynic properties in the cold plate test. Single-dose aripiprazole 1 and 10 mg/kg but not its repeated administration significantly decreased locomotor activity of oxaliplatin-treated mice. Single-dose aripiprazole 1 and 10 mg/kg, aripiprazole 1 mg/kg + ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg and aripiprazole 1 mg/kg + ceftriaxone 200 mg/kg impaired motor coordination in the rotarod test. CONCLUSIONS In mice, neither ceftriaxone nor aripiprazole attenuated cold allodynia. Ceftriaxone alone could attenuate tactile allodynia caused by oxaliplatin without inducing motor adverse effects. Although the administration of aripiprazole reduced tactile allodynia, this effect seems to be limited considering severe motor deficits induced by this drug.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Sałat
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Chair of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna St., 30-688 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Anna Furgała
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Chair of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna St., 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Robert Sałat
- Faculty of Production Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 164 Nowoursynowska St., 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Butler S. Effects of the excitatory amino acid transporter subtype 2 (EAAT-2) transporter inducer ceftriaxone (an antibiotic) on different pain modalities in rat. Scand J Pain 2018; 2:130-131. [PMID: 29913738 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjpain.2011.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Butler
- Uppsala University Hospital, Pain Center, Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Khariv V, Ni L, Ratnayake A, Sampath S, Lutz BM, Tao XX, Heary RF, Elkabes S. Impaired sensitivity to pain stimuli in plasma membrane calcium ATPase 2 (PMCA2) heterozygous mice: a possible modality- and sex-specific role for PMCA2 in nociception. FASEB J 2016; 31:224-237. [PMID: 27702770 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201600541r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Plasma membrane calcium ATPase 2 (PMCA2) is a calcium pump that plays important roles in neuronal function. Although it is expressed in pain-associated regions of the CNS, including in the dorsal horn (DH), its contribution to pain remains undefined. The present study assessed the role of PMCA2 in pain responsiveness and the link between PMCA2 and glutamate receptors, GABA receptors (GABARs), and glutamate transporters that have been implicated in pain processing in the DH of adult female and male PMCA2+/+ and PMCA2+/- mice. Behavioral assays evaluated mechanical and thermal pain responsiveness. Mechanical sensitivity was significantly increased by 52% and heat sensitivity was reduced by 29% in female, but not male, PMCA2+/- mice compared with PMCA2+/+ controls. There were female-specific changes in metabotropic glutamate receptor 1, NMDA receptor 2A, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor subunit GluR1, GABABR1, and GABABR2 levels, whereas metabotropic glutamate receptor 5, NMDA receptor 2B, GluR2, and GABAARα2 levels were not altered. Glutamate aspartate transporter levels were higher and glial glutamate transporter 1 levels were lower in the DH of female, but not male, PMCA2+/- mice. These findings indicate a novel role for PMCA2 in modality- and sex-dependent pain responsiveness. Female-specific molecular changes potentially account for the altered pain responses.-Khariv, V., Ni, L., Ratnayake, A., Sampath, S., Lutz, B. M., Tao, X.-X., Heary, R. F., Elkabes, S. Impaired sensitivity to pain stimuli in plasma membrane calcium ATPase 2 (PMCA2) heterozygous mice: a possible modality- and sex-specific role for PMCA2 in nociception.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Khariv
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Li Ni
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Ayomi Ratnayake
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Sujitha Sampath
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Brianna M Lutz
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA; and
| | - Xuan-Xiang Tao
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA; and
| | - Robert F Heary
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Stella Elkabes
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gegelashvili G, Bjerrum OJ. High-affinity glutamate transporters in chronic pain: an emerging therapeutic target. J Neurochem 2014; 131:712-30. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Revised: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Georgi Gegelashvili
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
- Institute of Chemical Biology; Ilia State University; Tbilisi Georgia
| | - Ole J. Bjerrum
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Predictive validity of pharmacologic interventions in animal models of neuropathic pain. Scand J Pain 2011; 2:178-184. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sjpain.2011.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2010] [Accepted: 06/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
The pathophysiologic and neurochemical characteristics of neuropathic pain must be considered in the search for new treatment targets. Breakthroughs in the understanding of the structural and biochemical changes in neuropathy have opened up possibilities to explore new treatment paradigms. However, long term sequels from the damage are still difficult to treat.
Aim of the study
To examine the validity of pharmacological treatments in humans and animals for neuropathic pain.
Method
An overview from the literature and own experiences of pharmacological treatments employed to interfere in pain behavior in different animal models was performed.
Results
The treatment principles tested in animal models of neuropathic pain may have predictive validity for treatment of human neuropathies. Opioids, neurotransmitter blockers, drugs interfering with the prostaglandin syntheses as well as voltage gated sodium channel blockers and calcium channel blockers are treatment principles having efficacy and similar potency in humans and in animals. Alternative targets have been identified and have shown promising results in the validated animal models. Modulators of the glutamate system with an increased expression of glutamate re-uptake transporters, inhibition of pain promoters as nitric oxide and prostaglandins need further exploration. Modulation of cytokines and neurotrophins in neuropathic pain implies new targets for study. Further, a combination of different analgesic treatments may as well improve management of neuropathic pain, changing the benefit/risk ratio.
Implications
Not surprisingly most pharmacologic principles that are tested in animal models of neuropathic pain are also found to be active in humans. Whereas many candidate drugs that were promising in animal models of neuropathic pain turned out not to be effective or too toxic in humans, animal models for neuropathic pain are still the best tools available to learn more about mechanisms of neuropathic pain. Better understanding of pathogenesis is the most hopeful approach to improve treatment of neuropathic pain.
Collapse
|