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Le Franc A, Da Silva A, Lepetre-Mouelhi S. Nanomedicine and voltage-gated sodium channel blockers in pain management: a game changer or a lost cause? Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024; 14:2112-2145. [PMID: 38861139 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-024-01615-9] [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] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Pain, a complex and debilitating condition affecting millions globally, is a significant concern, especially in the context of post-operative recovery. This comprehensive review explores the complexity of pain and its global impact, emphasizing the modulation of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC or NaV channels) as a promising avenue for pain management with the aim of reducing reliance on opioids. The article delves into the role of specific NaV isoforms, particularly NaV 1.7, NaV 1.8, and NaV 1.9, in pain process and discusses the development of sodium channel blockers to target these isoforms precisely. Traditional local anesthetics and selective NaV isoform inhibitors, despite showing varying efficacy in pain management, face challenges in systemic distribution and potential side effects. The review highlights the potential of nanomedicine in improving the delivery of local anesthetics, toxins and selective NaV isoform inhibitors for a targeted and sustained release at the site of pain. This innovative strategy seeks to improve drug bioavailability, minimize systemic exposure, and optimize therapeutic outcomes, holding significant promise for secure pain management and enhancing the quality of life for individuals recovering from surgical procedures or suffering from chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adélaïde Le Franc
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut Galien Paris-Saclay, 91400, Orsay, France
| | - Alexandre Da Silva
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut Galien Paris-Saclay, 91400, Orsay, France
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2
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Dou YN, Liu Y, Ding WQ, Li Q, Zhou H, Li L, Zhao MT, Li ZYQ, Yuan J, Wang XF, Zou WY, Li A, Sun YG. Single-neuron projectome-guided analysis reveals the neural circuit mechanism underlying endogenous opioid antinociception. Natl Sci Rev 2024; 11:nwae195. [PMID: 39045468 PMCID: PMC11264302 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwae195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Endogenous opioid antinociception is a self-regulatory mechanism that reduces chronic pain, but its underlying circuit mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we showed that endogenous opioid antinociception required the activation of mu-opioid receptors (MORs) in GABAergic neurons of the central amygdala nucleus (CEA) in a persistent-hyperalgesia mouse model. Pharmacogenetic suppression of these CEAMOR neurons, which mimics the effect of MOR activation, alleviated the persistent hyperalgesia. Furthermore, single-neuron projection analysis revealed multiple projectome-based subtypes of CEAMOR neurons, each innervating distinct target brain regions. We found that the suppression of axon branches projecting to the parabrachial nucleus (PB) of one subtype of CEAMOR neurons alleviated persistent hyperalgesia, indicating a subtype- and axonal-branch-specific mechanism of action. Further electrophysiological analysis revealed that suppression of a distinct CEA-PB disinhibitory circuit controlled endogenous opioid antinociception. Thus, this study identified the central neural circuit that underlies endogenous opioid antinociception, providing new insight into the endogenous pain modulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Nong Dou
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Department of Biology, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wen-Qun Ding
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qing Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Hua Zhou
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ling Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Meng-Ting Zhao
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Zheng-Yi-Qi Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiao-Fei Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wang-Yuan Zou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Anan Li
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yan-Gang Sun
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
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Pizzano M, Vereertbrugghen A, Cernutto A, Sabbione F, Keitelman IA, Shiromizu CM, Vera Aguilar D, Fuentes F, Giordano MN, Trevani AS, Galletti JG. Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-1 Channels Facilitate Axonal Degeneration of Corneal Sensory Nerves in Dry Eye. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024; 194:810-827. [PMID: 38325553 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2024.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Corneal nerve impairment contributes significantly to dry eye disease (DED) symptoms and is thought to be secondary to corneal epithelial damage. Transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) channels abound in corneal nerve fibers and respond to inflammation-derived ligands, which increase in DED. TRPV1 overactivation promotes axonal degeneration in vitro, but whether it participates in DED-associated corneal nerve dysfunction is unknown. To explore this, DED was surgically induced in wild-type and TRPV1-knockout mice, which developed comparable corneal epithelial damage and reduced tear secretion. However, corneal mechanosensitivity decreased progressively only in wild-type DED mice. Sensitivity to capsaicin (TRPV1 agonist) increased in wild-type DED mice, and consistently, only this strain displayed DED-induced pain signs. Wild-type DED mice exhibited nerve degeneration throughout the corneal epithelium, whereas TRPV1-knockout DED mice only developed a reduction in the most superficial nerve endings that failed to propagate to the deeper subbasal corneal nerves. Pharmacologic TRPV1 blockade reproduced these findings in wild-type DED mice, whereas CD4+ T cells from both strains were equally pathogenic when transferred, ruling out a T-cell-mediated effect of TRPV1 deficiency. These data show that ocular desiccation triggers superficial corneal nerve damage in DED, but proximal propagation of axonal degeneration requires TRPV1 expression. Local inflammation sensitized TRPV1 channels, which increased ocular pain. Thus, ocular TRPV1 overactivation drives DED-associated corneal nerve impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Pizzano
- Innate Immunity Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine (CONICET/National Academy of Medicine of Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alexia Vereertbrugghen
- Innate Immunity Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine (CONICET/National Academy of Medicine of Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agostina Cernutto
- Innate Immunity Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine (CONICET/National Academy of Medicine of Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Florencia Sabbione
- Innate Immunity Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine (CONICET/National Academy of Medicine of Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Irene A Keitelman
- Innate Immunity Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine (CONICET/National Academy of Medicine of Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina M Shiromizu
- Innate Immunity Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine (CONICET/National Academy of Medicine of Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Douglas Vera Aguilar
- Innate Immunity Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine (CONICET/National Academy of Medicine of Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Federico Fuentes
- Confocal Microscopy Unit, Institute of Experimental Medicine (CONICET/National Academy of Medicine of Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mirta N Giordano
- Innate Immunity Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine (CONICET/National Academy of Medicine of Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Analía S Trevani
- Innate Immunity Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine (CONICET/National Academy of Medicine of Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jeremías G Galletti
- Innate Immunity Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine (CONICET/National Academy of Medicine of Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Xie YF, Yang J, Ratté S, Prescott SA. Similar excitability through different sodium channels and implications for the analgesic efficacy of selective drugs. eLife 2024; 12:RP90960. [PMID: 38687187 PMCID: PMC11060714 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90960] [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] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Nociceptive sensory neurons convey pain-related signals to the CNS using action potentials. Loss-of-function mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.7 cause insensitivity to pain (presumably by reducing nociceptor excitability) but clinical trials seeking to treat pain by inhibiting NaV1.7 pharmacologically have struggled. This may reflect the variable contribution of NaV1.7 to nociceptor excitability. Contrary to claims that NaV1.7 is necessary for nociceptors to initiate action potentials, we show that nociceptors can achieve similar excitability using different combinations of NaV1.3, NaV1.7, and NaV1.8. Selectively blocking one of those NaV subtypes reduces nociceptor excitability only if the other subtypes are weakly expressed. For example, excitability relies on NaV1.8 in acutely dissociated nociceptors but responsibility shifts to NaV1.7 and NaV1.3 by the fourth day in culture. A similar shift in NaV dependence occurs in vivo after inflammation, impacting ability of the NaV1.7-selective inhibitor PF-05089771 to reduce pain in behavioral tests. Flexible use of different NaV subtypes exemplifies degeneracy - achieving similar function using different components - and compromises reliable modulation of nociceptor excitability by subtype-selective inhibitors. Identifying the dominant NaV subtype to predict drug efficacy is not trivial. Degeneracy at the cellular level must be considered when choosing drug targets at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Feng Xie
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
| | - Jane Yang
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Stéphanie Ratté
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
| | - Steven A Prescott
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Department of Physiology, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
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Rossignol J, Ouimet T, Poras H, Dallel R, Luccarini P. Synergistic effect of combining dual enkephalinase inhibitor PL37 and sumatriptan in a preclinical model of migraine. Headache 2024; 64:243-252. [PMID: 38385629 DOI: 10.1111/head.14681] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to test whether a combination of sumatriptan with dual enkephalinase inhibitor PL37 would result in an additive or a synergistic effect. BACKGROUND Combination treatment is frequently used to improve the therapeutic efficacy of drugs. The co-administration of two drugs may result in efficacy at lower doses than those needed for either drug alone, thus minimizing side effects. Here, we tested the effect of the co-administration of two drugs on cutaneous mechanical hypersensitivity (MH), a symptom often affecting cephalic regions in patients with migraine: dual enkephalinase inhibitor PL37, a small molecule that protects enkephalins from rapid degradation, and sumatriptan, a serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist. METHODS We investigated the effects of oral administrations of sumatriptan, PL37, or their combination on changes in cutaneous mechanical sensitivity induced by a single intraperitoneal administration of the nitric oxide donor, isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) in male rats. Mechanical sensitivity was assessed using von Frey filaments applied to the face of animals to determine pain thresholds. Isobolographic analysis was performed to determine the nature of the interaction between sumatriptan and PL37. RESULTS Sumatriptan as well as PL37 each produced a dose-dependent inhibition of ISDN-induced cephalic MH. Median effective dose (ED50 ) values were 0.3 and 1.1 mg/kg for sumatriptan and PL37, respectively. An isobolographic analysis of the effect of combined doses of sumatriptan and PL37 based on their calculated ED50 values demonstrated a synergistic effect of the combination on cephalic MH, with an interaction index of 0.14 ± 0.04. CONCLUSION These results suggest that PL37 acts synergistically with sumatriptan to produce an anti-allodynic effect in a rat model of migraine. Thus, combining PL37 and sumatriptan may be a useful therapeutic strategy in the management of migraine. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY There have been many advances in migraine treatment, but we still need more options that are effective and have few side effects. Sumatriptan is one available drug for acute treatment of migraine, but it does not work for every patient and is not suitable for some people. We tested a new drug called PL37 (that blocks enkephalinases) together with sumatriptan and the combination minimized side effects and allowed lower doses of the drugs for effective migraine treatment in an animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne Rossignol
- Neuro-Dol, Inserm, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- R & D Department, Pharmaleads SA, Paris, France
| | | | - Hervé Poras
- R & D Department, Pharmaleads SA, Paris, France
| | - Radhouane Dallel
- Neuro-Dol, Inserm, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Philippe Luccarini
- Neuro-Dol, Inserm, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Nguyen MB, Flora P, Branch MC, Weber M, Zheng XY, Sivan U, Joost S, Annusver K, Zheng D, Kasper M, Ezhkova E. Tenascin-C expressing touch dome keratinocytes exhibit characteristics of all epidermal lineages. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadi5791. [PMID: 38241368 PMCID: PMC10798558 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi5791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
The touch dome (TD) keratinocytes are specialized epidermal cells that intimately associate with the light touch sensing Merkel cells (MCs). The TD keratinocytes function as a niche for the MCs and can induce de novo hair follicles upon stimulation; however, how the TD keratinocytes are maintained during homeostasis remains unclear. scRNA-seq identified a specific TD keratinocyte marker, Tenascin-C (TNC). Lineage tracing of Tnc-expressing TD keratinocytes revealed that these cells maintain themselves as an autonomous epidermal compartment and give rise to MCs upon injury. Molecular characterization uncovered that, while the transcriptional and chromatin landscape of the TD keratinocytes is remarkably similar to that of the interfollicular epidermal keratinocytes, it also shares certain molecular signatures with the hair follicle keratinocytes. Our study highlights that the TD keratinocytes in the adult skin have molecular characteristics of keratinocytes of diverse epidermal lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh Binh Nguyen
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pooja Flora
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Meagan C. Branch
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Madison Weber
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiang Yu Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Unnikrishnan Sivan
- Department of Neurology, and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Simon Joost
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Karl Annusver
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria Kasper
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elena Ezhkova
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Wallace MN, Palmer AR. Neural Plasticity in Tinnitus Mechanisms. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1615. [PMID: 38137063 PMCID: PMC10741551 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13121615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Basic work into neuroplasticity mechanisms in both invertebrate and vertebrate brains, followed by the development of the first animal model of tinnitus, and coupled with clinical studies of tinnitus, meant that, by 1990, Jastreboff [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark N. Wallace
- Hearing Sciences, Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK;
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Fetell M, Sendel M, Li T, Marinelli L, Vollert J, Ruggerio E, Houk G, Dockum M, Albrecht PJ, Rice FL, Baron R. Cutaneous nerve fiber and peripheral Nav1.7 assessment in a large cohort of patients with postherpetic neuralgia. Pain 2023; 164:2435-2446. [PMID: 37366590 PMCID: PMC10578423 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The mechanisms of pain in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) are still unclear, with some studies showing loss of cutaneous sensory nerve fibers that seemed to correlate with pain level. We report results of skin biopsies and correlations with baseline pain scores, mechanical hyperalgesia, and the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) in 294 patients who participated in a clinical trial of TV-45070, a topical semiselective sodium 1.7 channel (Nav1.7) blocker. Intraepidermal nerve fibers and subepidermal Nav1.7 immunolabeled fibers were quantified in skin punch biopsies from the area of maximal PHN pain, as well as from the contralateral, homologous (mirror image) region. Across the entire study population, a 20% reduction in nerve fibers on the PHN-affected side compared with that in the contralateral side was noted; however, the reduction was much higher in older individuals, approaching 40% in those aged 70 years or older. There was a decrease in contralateral fiber counts as well, also noted in prior biopsy studies, the mechanism of which is not fully clear. Nav1.7-positive immunolabeling was present in approximately one-third of subepidermal nerve fibers and did not differ on the PHN-affected vs contralateral sides. Using cluster analysis, 2 groups could be identified, with the first cluster showing higher baseline pain, higher NPSI scores for squeezing and cold-induced pain, higher nerve fiber density, and higher Nav1.7 expression. While Nav1.7 varies from patient to patient, it does not seem to be a key pathophysiological driver of PHN pain. Individual differences in Nav1.7 expression, however, may determine the intensity and sensory aspects of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manon Sendel
- Division of Neurological Pain Research and Therapy, Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany
| | - Thomas Li
- Teva Pharmaceuticals, West Chester, PA, United States
| | | | - Jan Vollert
- Division of Neurological Pain Research and Therapy, Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany
- Pain Research, MSk Lab, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Neurophysiology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neuroscience MCTN, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Ruprecht Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - George Houk
- Integrated Tissue Dynamics LLC, Rensselaer, NY, United States
| | - Marilyn Dockum
- Integrated Tissue Dynamics LLC, Rensselaer, NY, United States
| | | | - Frank L. Rice
- Integrated Tissue Dynamics LLC, Rensselaer, NY, United States
| | - Ralf Baron
- Division of Neurological Pain Research and Therapy, Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany
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Thouaye M, Yalcin I. Neuropathic pain: From actual pharmacological treatments to new therapeutic horizons. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 251:108546. [PMID: 37832728 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain, caused by a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system, affects between 3 and 17% of the general population. The treatment of neuropathic pain is challenging due to its heterogeneous etiologies, lack of objective diagnostic tools and resistance to classical analgesic drugs. First-line treatments recommended by the Special Interest Group on Neuropathic Pain (NeuPSIG) and European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) include gabapentinoids, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Nevertheless these treatments have modest efficacy or dose limiting side effects. There is therefore a growing number of preclinical and clinical studies aim at developing new treatment strategies to treat neuropathic pain with better efficacy, selectivity, and less side effects. In this review, after a brief description of the mechanisms of action, efficacy, and limitations of current therapeutic drugs, we reviewed new preclinical and clinical targets currently under investigation, as well as promising non-pharmacological alternatives and their potential co-use with pharmacological treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Thouaye
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ipek Yalcin
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France; Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
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10
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Santiago C, Sharma N, Africawala N, Siegrist J, Handler A, Tasnim A, Anjum R, Turecek J, Lehnert BP, Renauld S, Nolan-Tamariz M, Iskols M, Magee AR, Paradis S, Ginty DD. Activity-dependent development of the body's touch receptors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.23.559109. [PMID: 37790437 PMCID: PMC10542488 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.23.559109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
We report a role for activity in the development of the primary sensory neurons that detect touch. Genetic deletion of Piezo2, the principal mechanosensitive ion channel in somatosensory neurons, caused profound changes in the formation of mechanosensory end organ structures and altered somatosensory neuron central targeting. Single cell RNA sequencing of Piezo2 conditional mutants revealed changes in gene expression in the sensory neurons activated by light mechanical forces, whereas other neuronal classes were less affected. To further test the role of activity in mechanosensory end organ development, we genetically deleted the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.6 (Scn8a) in somatosensory neurons throughout development and found that Scn8a mutants also have disrupted somatosensory neuron morphologies and altered electrophysiological responses to mechanical stimuli. Together, these findings indicate that mechanically evoked neuronal activity acts early in life to shape the maturation of the mechanosensory end organs that underlie our sense of gentle touch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Santiago
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Nikhil Sharma
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Nusrat Africawala
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Julianna Siegrist
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Annie Handler
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Aniqa Tasnim
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rabia Anjum
- Department of Biology and Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Josef Turecek
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Brendan P. Lehnert
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Sophia Renauld
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael Nolan-Tamariz
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael Iskols
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alexandra R. Magee
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Suzanne Paradis
- Department of Biology and Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - David D. Ginty
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Lead Contact
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Deng L, Dourado M, Reese RM, Huang K, Shields SD, Stark KL, Maksymetz J, Lin H, Kaminker JS, Jung M, Foreman O, Tao J, Ngu H, Joseph V, Roose-Girma M, Tam L, Lardell S, Orrhult LS, Karila P, Allard J, Hackos DH. Nav1.7 is essential for nociceptor action potentials in the mouse in a manner independent of endogenous opioids. Neuron 2023; 111:2642-2659.e13. [PMID: 37352856 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in Nav1.7, a voltage-gated sodium channel, cause congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP) in humans, demonstrating that Nav1.7 is essential for the perception of pain. However, the mechanism by which loss of Nav1.7 results in insensitivity to pain is not entirely clear. It has been suggested that loss of Nav1.7 induces overexpression of enkephalin, an endogenous opioid receptor agonist, leading to opioid-dependent analgesia. Using behavioral pharmacology and single-cell RNA-seq analysis, we find that overexpression of enkephalin occurs only in cLTMR neurons, a subclass of sensory neurons involved in low-threshold touch detection, and that this overexpression does not play a role in the analgesia observed following genetic removal of Nav1.7. Furthermore, we demonstrate using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) and in vivo electrophysiology that Nav1.7 function is required for the initiation of C-fiber action potentials (APs), which explains the observed insensitivity to pain following genetic removal or inhibition of Nav1.7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lunbin Deng
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michelle Dourado
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca M Reese
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kevin Huang
- Department of OMNI Bioinformatics, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shannon D Shields
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kimberly L Stark
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - James Maksymetz
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Han Lin
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joshua S Kaminker
- Department of OMNI Bioinformatics, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Min Jung
- Department of OMNI Bioinformatics, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Oded Foreman
- Department of Pathology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Janet Tao
- Department of Pathology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hai Ngu
- Department of Pathology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Victory Joseph
- Department of Biomedical Imaging, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Meron Roose-Girma
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Lucinda Tam
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | | | - Paul Karila
- Cellectricon AB, Neongatan 4B, 431 53 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Julien Allard
- E-Phys, CRBC, 28 place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
| | - David H Hackos
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA.
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12
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Waxman SG, Dib-Hajj SD. Na V1.7: A central role in pain. Neuron 2023; 111:2615-2617. [PMID: 37678164 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Loss of function of sodium channel NaV1.7 produces pain insensitivity. In this issue, Deng et al.1 show that analgesia after NaV1.7 removal or pharmacological blockade is not driven by enkephalin overexpression. These results underscore the essential role, independent of endogenous opioids, of NaV1.7 for nociceptor firing and pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen G Waxman
- Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520; Center for Neuroscience & Regeneration Research, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520; Center for Rehabilitation Research, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516.
| | - Sulayman D Dib-Hajj
- Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520; Center for Neuroscience & Regeneration Research, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520; Center for Rehabilitation Research, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516
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13
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Hung CH, Chin Y, Fong YO, Lee CH, Han DS, Lin JH, Sun WH, Chen CC. Acidosis-related pain and its receptors as targets for chronic pain. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 247:108444. [PMID: 37210007 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Sensing acidosis is an important somatosensory function in responses to ischemia, inflammation, and metabolic alteration. Accumulating evidence has shown that acidosis is an effective factor for pain induction and that many intractable chronic pain diseases are associated with acidosis signaling. Various receptors have been known to detect extracellular acidosis and all express in the somatosensory neurons, such as acid sensing ion channels (ASIC), transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and proton-sensing G-protein coupled receptors. In addition to sense noxious acidic stimulation, these proton-sensing receptors also play a vital role in pain processing. For example, ASICs and TRPs are involved in not only nociceptive activation but also anti-nociceptive effects as well as some other non-nociceptive pathways. Herein, we review recent progress in probing the roles of proton-sensing receptors in preclinical pain research and their clinical relevance. We also propose a new concept of sngception to address the specific somatosensory function of acid sensation. This review aims to connect these acid-sensing receptors with basic pain research and clinical pain diseases, thus helping with better understanding the acid-related pain pathogenesis and their potential therapeutic roles via the mechanism of acid-mediated antinociception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Hsien Hung
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yin Chin
- Department of Life Science & Institute of Genome Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-On Fong
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Han Lee
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Der-Shen Han
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jiann-Her Lin
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Hsin Sun
- Department of Life Science & Institute of Genome Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Cheng Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan; Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Neuroscience Program of Academia Sinica, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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14
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Alvarez-Perez B, Poras H, Maldonado R. The inhibition of enkephalin catabolism by dual enkephalinase inhibitor: A novel possible therapeutic approach for opioid use disorders. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:879-893. [PMID: 34378790 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the increasing impact of opioid use disorders on society, there is a disturbing lack of effective medications for their clinical management. An interesting innovative strategy to treat these disorders consists in the protection of endogenous opioid peptides to activate opioid receptors, avoiding the classical opioid-like side effects. Dual enkephalinase inhibitors (DENKIs) physiologically activate the endogenous opioid system by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for the breakdown of enkephalins, protecting endogenous enkephalins and increasing their half-lives and physiological actions. The activation of opioid receptors by the increased enkephalin levels, and their well-demonstrated safety, suggests that DENKIs could represent a novel analgesic therapy and a possible effective treatment for acute opioid withdrawal, as well as a promising alternative to opioid substitution therapy minimizing side effects. This new pharmacological class of compounds could bring effective and safe medications avoiding the major limitations of exogenous opioids, representing a novel approach to overcome the problem of opioid use disorders. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Advances in Opioid Pharmacology at the Time of the Opioid Epidemic. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v180.7/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beltran Alvarez-Perez
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Rafael Maldonado
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
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15
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Na V1.7 Channel Blocker [Ala 5, Phe 6, Leu 26, Arg 28]GpTx-1 Attenuates CFA-induced Inflammatory Hypersensitivity in Rats via Endogenous Enkephalin Mechanism. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2022; 24:840-859. [PMID: 36586660 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2022.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Venom-derived NaV1.7 channel blockers have promising prospects in pain management. The 34-residue tarantula peptide GpTx-1 is a potent NaV1.7 channel blocker. Its powerful analog [Ala5, Phe6, Leu26, Arg28]GpTx-1 (GpTx-1-71) displayed excellent NaV1.7 selectivity and analgesic properties in mice. The current study aimed to elucidate the anti-hyperalgesic activities of GpTx-1-71 in inflammatory pain and reveal the underlying mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that intrathecal and intraplantar injections of GpTx-1-71 dose-dependently attenuated CFA-induced inflammatory hypersensitivity in rats. Moreover, GpTx-1-71-induced anti-hyperalgesia was significantly reduced by opioid receptor antagonists and the enkephalin antibody and diminished in proenkephalin (Penk) gene knockout animals. Consistently, GpTx-1-71 treatment increased the enkephalin level in the spinal dorsal horn and promoted the Penk transcription and enkephalin release in primary dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, wherein sodium played a crucial role in these processes. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that GpTx-1-71 mainly promoted the secretion of Met-enkephalin but not Leu-enkephalin from DRG neurons. In addition, the combination of subtherapeutic Met-enkephalin and GpTx-1-71 produced synergistic anti-hyperalgesia in CFA-induced inflammatory hypersensitivity. These findings suggest that the endogenous enkephalin pathway is essential for GpTx-1-71-induced spinal and peripheral analgesia in inflammatory pain. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents a possible pharmacological mechanism underlying NaV1.7 blocker-induced analgesia in inflammatory pain, which helps us to better understand and develop venom-based painkillers for incurable pain.
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16
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Middleton SJ, Perini I, Themistocleous AC, Weir GA, McCann K, Barry AM, Marshall A, Lee M, Mayo LM, Bohic M, Baskozos G, Morrison I, Löken LS, McIntyre S, Nagi SS, Staud R, Sehlstedt I, Johnson RD, Wessberg J, Wood JN, Woods CG, Moqrich A, Olausson H, Bennett DL. Nav1.7 is required for normal C-low threshold mechanoreceptor function in humans and mice. Brain 2022; 145:3637-3653. [PMID: 34957475 PMCID: PMC9586547 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with bi-allelic loss of function mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7 present with congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP), whilst low threshold mechanosensation is reportedly normal. Using psychophysics (n = 6 CIP participants and n = 86 healthy controls) and facial electromyography (n = 3 CIP participants and n = 8 healthy controls), we found that these patients also have abnormalities in the encoding of affective touch, which is mediated by the specialized afferents C-low threshold mechanoreceptors (C-LTMRs). In the mouse, we found that C-LTMRs express high levels of Nav1.7. Genetic loss or selective pharmacological inhibition of Nav1.7 in C-LTMRs resulted in a significant reduction in the total sodium current density, an increased mechanical threshold and reduced sensitivity to non-noxious cooling. The behavioural consequence of loss of Nav1.7 in C-LTMRs in mice was an elevation in the von Frey mechanical threshold and less sensitivity to cooling on a thermal gradient. Nav1.7 is therefore not only essential for normal pain perception but also for normal C-LTMR function, cool sensitivity and affective touch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Middleton
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Irene Perini
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Andreas C Themistocleous
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Greg A Weir
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Kirsty McCann
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Allison M Barry
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Andrew Marshall
- Institute of Aging and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, L3 5DA Liverpool, UK
| | - Michael Lee
- University Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Cambridge NHS Foundation Trust Hospitals, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Leah M Mayo
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Manon Bohic
- Aix-Marseille-Université, CNRS, Institute de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, UMR 7288, case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Georgios Baskozos
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - India Morrison
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Line S Löken
- Department of Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sarah McIntyre
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Saad S Nagi
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Roland Staud
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Isac Sehlstedt
- Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Richard D Johnson
- Department of Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Johan Wessberg
- Department of Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - John N Wood
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Christopher G Woods
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Aziz Moqrich
- Aix-Marseille-Université, CNRS, Institute de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, UMR 7288, case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Håkan Olausson
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - David L Bennett
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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17
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Leung HW, Foo G, VanDongen A. Arc Regulates Transcription of Genes for Plasticity, Excitability and Alzheimer’s Disease. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081946. [PMID: 36009494 PMCID: PMC9405677 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The immediate early gene Arc is a master regulator of synaptic function and a critical determinant of memory consolidation. Here, we show that Arc interacts with dynamic chromatin and closely associates with histone markers for active enhancers and transcription in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Both these histone modifications, H3K27Ac and H3K9Ac, have recently been shown to be upregulated in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). When Arc induction by pharmacological network activation was prevented using a short hairpin RNA, the expression profile was altered for over 1900 genes, which included genes associated with synaptic function, neuronal plasticity, intrinsic excitability, and signalling pathways. Interestingly, about 100 Arc-dependent genes are associated with the pathophysiology of AD. When endogenous Arc expression was induced in HEK293T cells, the transcription of many neuronal genes was increased, suggesting that Arc can control expression in the absence of activated signalling pathways. Taken together, these data establish Arc as a master regulator of neuronal activity-dependent gene expression and suggest that it plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriel Foo
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Antonius VanDongen
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Correspondence:
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18
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Lischka A, Lassuthova P, Çakar A, Record CJ, Van Lent J, Baets J, Dohrn MF, Senderek J, Lampert A, Bennett DL, Wood JN, Timmerman V, Hornemann T, Auer-Grumbach M, Parman Y, Hübner CA, Elbracht M, Eggermann K, Geoffrey Woods C, Cox JJ, Reilly MM, Kurth I. Genetic pain loss disorders. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2022; 8:41. [PMID: 35710757 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-022-00365-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Genetic pain loss includes congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP), hereditary sensory neuropathies and, if autonomic nerves are involved, hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy (HSAN). This heterogeneous group of disorders highlights the essential role of nociception in protecting against tissue damage. Patients with genetic pain loss have recurrent injuries, burns and poorly healing wounds as disease hallmarks. CIP and HSAN are caused by pathogenic genetic variants in >20 genes that lead to developmental defects, neurodegeneration or altered neuronal excitability of peripheral damage-sensing neurons. These genetic variants lead to hyperactivity of sodium channels, disturbed haem metabolism, altered clathrin-mediated transport and impaired gene regulatory mechanisms affecting epigenetic marks, long non-coding RNAs and repetitive elements. Therapies for pain loss disorders are mainly symptomatic but the first targeted therapies are being tested. Conversely, chronic pain remains one of the greatest unresolved medical challenges, and the genes and mechanisms associated with pain loss offer new targets for analgesics. Given the progress that has been made, the coming years are promising both in terms of targeted treatments for pain loss disorders and the development of innovative pain medicines based on knowledge of these genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Lischka
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Petra Lassuthova
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Arman Çakar
- Neuromuscular Unit, Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Christopher J Record
- Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Jonas Van Lent
- Peripheral Neuropathy Research Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neuromuscular Pathology, Institute Born Bunge, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Baets
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Pathology, Institute Born Bunge, Antwerp, Belgium.,Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Neuromuscular Reference Centre, Department of Neurology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maike F Dohrn
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, Department of Human Genetics and John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jan Senderek
- Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Angelika Lampert
- Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - David L Bennett
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - John N Wood
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Vincent Timmerman
- Peripheral Neuropathy Research Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neuromuscular Pathology, Institute Born Bunge, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Thorsten Hornemann
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michaela Auer-Grumbach
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yesim Parman
- Neuromuscular Unit, Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Miriam Elbracht
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Katja Eggermann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - C Geoffrey Woods
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Keith Peters Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - James J Cox
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mary M Reilly
- Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Ingo Kurth
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
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19
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Kokotović T, Lenartowicz EM, Langeslag M, Ciotu CI, Fell CW, Scaramuzza A, Fischer MJM, Kress M, Penninger JM, Nagy V. Transcription factor mesenchyme homeobox protein 2 (MEOX2) modulates nociceptor function. FEBS J 2022; 289:3457-3476. [PMID: 35029322 PMCID: PMC9306780 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Mesenchyme homeobox protein 2 (MEOX2) is a transcription factor involved in mesoderm differentiation, including development of bones, muscles, vasculature and dermatomes. We have previously identified dysregulation of MEOX2 in fibroblasts from Congenital Insensitivity to Pain patients, and confirmed that btn, the Drosophila homologue of MEOX2, plays a role in nocifensive responses to noxious heat stimuli. To determine the importance of MEOX2 in the mammalian peripheral nervous system, we used a Meox2 heterozygous (Meox2+/−) mouse model to characterise its function in the sensory nervous system, and more specifically, in nociception. MEOX2 is expressed in the mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord, and localises in the nuclei of a subset of sensory neurons. Functional studies of the mouse model, including behavioural, cellular and electrophysiological analyses, showed altered nociception encompassing impaired action potential initiation upon depolarisation. Mechanistically, we noted decreased expression of Scn9a and Scn11a genes encoding Nav1.7 and Nav1.9 voltage‐gated sodium channels respectively, that are crucial in subthreshold amplification and action potential initiation in nociceptors. Further transcriptomic analyses of Meox2+/− DRG revealed downregulation of a specific subset of genes including those previously associated with pain perception, such as PENK and NPY. Based on these observations, we propose a novel role of MEOX2 in primary afferent nociceptor neurons for the maintenance of a transcriptional programme required for proper perception of acute and inflammatory noxious stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomislav Kokotović
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases Vienna Austria
- CeMM‐Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Vienna Austria
- Department of Neurology Medical University of Vienna Austria
| | | | - Michiel Langeslag
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics Institute of Physiology Medical University of Innsbruck Austria
- Institute of Pharmacy and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI) University of Innsbruck Austria
- Department of Pharmacology Medical University of Innsbruck Austria
| | - Cosmin I. Ciotu
- Institute of Physiology Medical University of Vienna Austria
| | - Christopher W. Fell
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases Vienna Austria
- CeMM‐Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Vienna Austria
- Department of Neurology Medical University of Vienna Austria
| | - Angelica Scaramuzza
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases Vienna Austria
| | | | - Michaela Kress
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics Institute of Physiology Medical University of Innsbruck Austria
| | - Josef M. Penninger
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences VBC – Vienna BioCenter Campus Vienna Austria
- Department of Medical Genetics Life Science Institute University of British Columbia Vancouver Canada
| | - Vanja Nagy
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases Vienna Austria
- CeMM‐Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Vienna Austria
- Department of Neurology Medical University of Vienna Austria
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20
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Liu B, Qiao L, Liu K, Liu J, Piccinni-Ash TJ, Chen ZF. Molecular and neural basis of pleasant touch sensation. Science 2022; 376:483-491. [PMID: 35482870 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn2479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Pleasant touch provides emotional and psychological support that helps mitigate social isolation and stress. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using a pleasant touch-conditioned place preference (PT-CPP) test, we show that genetic ablation of spinal excitatory interneurons expressing prokineticin receptor 2 (PROKR2), or its ligand PROK2 in sensory neurons, abolishes PT-CPP without impairing pain and itch behaviors in mice. Mutant mice display profound impairments in stress response and prosocial behaviors. Moreover, PROKR2 neurons respond most vigorously to gentle stroking and encode reward value. Collectively, we identify PROK2 as a long-sought neuropeptide that encodes and transmits pleasant touch to spinal PROKR2 neurons. These findings may have important implications for elucidating mechanisms by which pleasant touch deprivation contributes to social avoidance behavior and mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benlong Liu
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Lina Qiao
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kun Liu
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Juan Liu
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Tyler J Piccinni-Ash
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Zhou-Feng Chen
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Departments of Medicine, Psychiatry, and Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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21
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Chen Y, Xu E, Sang M, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Ye J, Zhou Q, Zhao C, Hu C, Lu W, Cao P. Makatoxin-3, a thermostable Nav1.7 agonist from Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK) scorpion elicits non-narcotic analgesia in inflammatory pain models. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 288:114998. [PMID: 35063590 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.114998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Chronic pain management represents a serious healthcare problem worldwide. The use of opioid analgesics for pain has always been hampered by their side effects; in particular, the addictive liability associated with chronic use. Finding a morphine replacement has been a long-standing goal in the field of analgesia. In traditional Chinese medicine, processed Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK) scorpion has been used as a painkiller to treat chronic inflammatory arthritis and spondylitis, so called "Scorpio-analgesia". However, the molecular basis and the underline mechanism for the Scorpio-analgesia are still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY The study aims to investigate the molecular basis of "Scorpio analgesia" and identify novel analgesics from BmK scorpion. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, the analgesic abilities were determined using formalin-, acetic acid- and complete Freund's adjuvant-induced pain models. The effect of BmK venom and processed BmK venom on Nav1.7 were detected by whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings on HEK293-hNav1.7 stable cell line. Action potentials in Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons induced by Makatoxin-3-R58A were recorded in current-clamp mode. The content of Makatoxin-3 was detected using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on the Makatoxin-3 antibody. High performance liquid chromatography, western blot and circular dichroism spectroscopy were used to analysis the stability of Makatoxin-3. RESULTS Here we demonstrate that Makatoxin-3, an α-like toxin in BmK scorpion venom targeting Nav1.7 is the critical component in Scorpio-analgesia. The analgesic effect of Makatoxin-3 could not be reversed by naloxone and is more potent than Nav1.7-selective inhibitors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in inflammatory models. Moreover, a R58A mutant of Makatoxin-3 is capable of eliciting analgesia effect without inducing pain response. CONCLUSIONS This study advances ion channel biology and proposes Nav1.7 agonists, rather than the presumed Nav1.7-only blockers, for non-narcotic relief of chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonggen Chen
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210028, China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Erjin Xu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210028, China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Ming Sang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210028, China
| | - Zhiheng Wang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210028, China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210028, China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Juan Ye
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210028, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210028, China
| | - Chenglei Zhao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210028, China
| | - Chunping Hu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210028, China
| | - Wuguang Lu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210028, China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China.
| | - Peng Cao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210028, China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China.
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22
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Descheemaeker A, Poras H, Wurm M, Luccarini P, Ouimet T, Dallel R. Dual enkephalinase inhibitor PL37 as a potential novel treatment of migraine: evidence from a rat model. Brain 2022; 145:2664-2670. [PMID: 35411377 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The dual enkephalinase inhibitor PL37, a small molecule that protects enkephalins from their rapid degradation, has demonstrated analgesic properties in animal pain models and in early human clinical trials. This study tested the antimigraine potential of PL37 on cutaneous mechanical hypersensitivity affecting cephalic regions in migraineurs. Using behavioral testing and c-Fos immunoreactivity in male rats, we investigated the effects of single (oral or intravenous) and repeated oral administration of PL37 on changes in cutaneous mechanical sensitivity and sensitization of the trigeminocervical complex induced by repeated administration of the nitric oxide donor, isosorbide dinitrate. In naive rats, single or repeated administration of PL37 or vehicle had no effect on cephalic mechanical sensitivity. However, single oral PL37 treatment effectively inhibited isosorbide dinitrate-induced acute cephalic mechanical hypersensitivity. Single intravenous but not oral PL37 administration inhibited chronic cephalic mechanical hypersensitivity. Daily oral administration of PL37 prevented cephalic mechanical hypersensitivity and decreased touch-induced c-Fos expression in trigeminocervical complex following repeated isosorbide dinitrate administration. These data reveal the therapeutic potential of the dual enkephalinase inhibitor PL37 as an acute and prophylactic treatment for migraine. Protecting enkephalins from their degrading enzymes therefore appears as an innovative approach to treat migraine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie Descheemaeker
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Inserm, Neuro-Dol, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | | | | | - Philippe Luccarini
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Inserm, Neuro-Dol, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | | | - Radhouane Dallel
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Inserm, Neuro-Dol, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
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23
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Tran HNT, McMahon KL, Deuis JR, Vetter I, Schroeder CI. Structural and functional insights into the inhibition of human voltage-gated sodium channels by μ-conotoxin KIIIA disulfide isomers. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101728. [PMID: 35167877 PMCID: PMC8927997 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
μ-Conotoxins are components of cone snail venom, well-known for their analgesic activity through potent inhibition of voltage-gated sodium channel (NaV) subtypes, including NaV1.7. These small, disulfide-rich peptides are typically stabilized by three disulfide bonds arranged in a ‘native’ CysI-CysIV, CysII-CysV, CysIII-CysVI pattern of disulfide connectivity. However, μ-conotoxin KIIIA, the smallest and most studied μ-conotoxin with inhibitory activity at NaV1.7, forms two distinct disulfide bond isomers during thermodynamic oxidative folding, including Isomer 1 (CysI-CysV, CysII-CysIV, CysIII-CysVI) and Isomer 2 (CysI-CysVI, CysII-CysIV, CysIII-CysV), but not the native μ-conotoxin arrangement. To date, there has been no study on the structure and activity of KIIIA comprising the native μ-conotoxin disulfide bond arrangement. Here, we evaluated the synthesis, potency, sodium channel subtype selectivity, and 3D structure of the three isomers of KIIIA. Using a regioselective disulfide bond-forming strategy, we synthetically produced the three μ-conotoxin KIIIA isomers displaying distinct bioactivity and NaV subtype selectivity across human NaV channel subtypes 1.2, 1.4, and 1.7. We show that Isomer 1 inhibits NaV subtypes with a rank order of potency of NaV1.4 > 1.2 > 1.7 and Isomer 2 in the order of NaV1.4≈1.2 > 1.7, while the native isomer inhibited NaV1.4 > 1.7≈1.2. The three KIIIA isomers were further evaluated by NMR solution structure analysis and molecular docking with hNaV1.2. Our study highlights the importance of investigating alternate disulfide isomers, as disulfide connectivity affects not only the overall structure of the peptides but also the potency and subtype selectivity of μ-conotoxins targeting therapeutically relevant NaV subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hue N T Tran
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kirsten L McMahon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jennifer R Deuis
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Irina Vetter
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia; School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia; Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA.
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24
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Feng S, He Z, Que L, Luo X, Liang L, Li D, Qin L. Primary erythromelalgia mainly manifested by hypertensive crisis: A case report and literature review. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:796149. [PMID: 36052366 PMCID: PMC9424545 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.796149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary erythrocytic (PEM) is a rare autosomal dominant single gene disease. Most of the changes of gene loci can be found by whole exon gene sequencing, and the clinical symptoms and patient survival can be improved by specific site-to-site drug treatment. The other manifestations of this patient population are not remarkable. After the application of common drugs, the toxicity and side effects can be limiting. In addition to other common clinical manifestations, we found that the only unique manifestation of this patient was hypertensive crisis. Following multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment (MDT), we decided to first control hypertension to alleviate the acute and critical patients. However, after controlling the hypertensive crisis, we unexpectedly found that the clinical symptoms of the patients had been significantly improved. Therefore, we concluded that the use of antihypertensive drugs can treat erythematous limb pain with the clinical manifestation of hypertensive crisis. Here, we describe a typical PEM disease, primary clinical features, diagnosis and treatment. METHODS Medical records of an 8-year-old boy with PEM were analyzed retrospectively, which included clinical characteristics, follow-up information, and SCN9A (Sodium Voltage-Gated Channel Alpha Subunit 9) gene analysis. RESULTS The 8-year-old boy had complained of abnormal paresthesia in his feet and ankles with burning sensation and pain for 2 years. The skin of both lower legs was red and underwent ichthyosis and lichenification. Genetic analysis confirmed the existence of a SCN9A gene mutation. The symptoms were gradually improved by treating with intravenous drip and oral administration of nitroglycerin to slow his heart rhythm. CONCLUSION Primary erythrocytic is characterized by skin ulceration, redness, elevated temperature, and severe burning pain primarily in both lower extremities. PEM can be diagnosed by genetic analysis. As this case demonstrates, treating with nitroglycerin as the drug of choice to control the hypertensive crisis significantly improved the symptoms of PEM and hypertension in this patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Feng
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhanwen He
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liping Que
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangyang Luo
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liyang Liang
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dongfang Li
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lijun Qin
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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25
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Wistrom E, Chase R, Smith PR, Campbell ZT. A compendium of validated pain genes. WIREs Mech Dis 2022; 14:e1570. [PMID: 35760453 PMCID: PMC9787016 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The development of novel pain therapeutics hinges on the identification and rigorous validation of potential targets. Model organisms provide a means to test the involvement of specific genes and regulatory elements in pain. Here we provide a list of genes linked to pain-associated behaviors. We capitalize on results spanning over three decades to identify a set of 242 genes. They support a remarkable diversity of functions spanning action potential propagation, immune response, GPCR signaling, enzymatic catalysis, nucleic acid regulation, and intercellular signaling. Making use of existing tissue and single-cell high-throughput RNA sequencing datasets, we examine their patterns of expression. For each gene class, we discuss archetypal members, with an emphasis on opportunities for additional experimentation. Finally, we discuss how powerful and increasingly ubiquitous forward genetic screening approaches could be used to improve our ability to identify pain genes. This article is categorized under: Neurological Diseases > Genetics/Genomics/Epigenetics Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Wistrom
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonTexasUSA
| | - Rebecca Chase
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonTexasUSA
| | - Patrick R. Smith
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonTexasUSA
| | - Zachary T. Campbell
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonTexasUSA,Center for Advanced Pain StudiesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonTexasUSA
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26
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Alles SRA, Smith PA. Peripheral Voltage-Gated Cation Channels in Neuropathic Pain and Their Potential as Therapeutic Targets. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2021; 2:750583. [PMID: 35295464 PMCID: PMC8915663 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2021.750583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The persistence of increased excitability and spontaneous activity in injured peripheral neurons is imperative for the development and persistence of many forms of neuropathic pain. This aberrant activity involves increased activity and/or expression of voltage-gated Na+ and Ca2+ channels and hyperpolarization activated cyclic nucleotide gated (HCN) channels as well as decreased function of K+ channels. Because they display limited central side effects, peripherally restricted Na+ and Ca2+ channel blockers and K+ channel activators offer potential therapeutic approaches to pain management. This review outlines the current status and future therapeutic promise of peripherally acting channel modulators. Selective blockers of Nav1.3, Nav1.7, Nav1.8, Cav3.2, and HCN2 and activators of Kv7.2 abrogate signs of neuropathic pain in animal models. Unfortunately, their performance in the clinic has been disappointing; some substances fail to meet therapeutic end points whereas others produce dose-limiting side effects. Despite this, peripheral voltage-gated cation channels retain their promise as therapeutic targets. The way forward may include (i) further structural refinement of K+ channel activators such as retigabine and ASP0819 to improve selectivity and limit toxicity; use or modification of Na+ channel blockers such as vixotrigine, PF-05089771, A803467, PF-01247324, VX-150 or arachnid toxins such as Tap1a; the use of Ca2+ channel blockers such as TTA-P2, TTA-A2, Z 944, ACT709478, and CNCB-2; (ii) improving methods for assessing "pain" as opposed to nociception in rodent models; (iii) recognizing sex differences in pain etiology; (iv) tailoring of therapeutic approaches to meet the symptoms and etiology of pain in individual patients via quantitative sensory testing and other personalized medicine approaches; (v) targeting genetic and biochemical mechanisms controlling channel expression using anti-NGF antibodies such as tanezumab or re-purposed drugs such as vorinostat, a histone methyltransferase inhibitor used in the management of T-cell lymphoma, or cercosporamide a MNK 1/2 inhibitor used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; (vi) combination therapy using drugs that are selective for different channel types or regulatory processes; (vii) directing preclinical validation work toward the use of human or human-derived tissue samples; and (viii) application of molecular biological approaches such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha R A Alles
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Peter A Smith
- Department of Pharmacology, Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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27
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Cai S, Moutal A, Yu J, Chew LA, Isensee J, Chawla R, Gomez K, Luo S, Zhou Y, Chefdeville A, Madura C, Perez-Miller S, Bellampalli SS, Dorame A, Scott DD, François-Moutal L, Shan Z, Woodward T, Gokhale V, Hohmann AG, Vanderah TW, Patek M, Khanna M, Hucho T, Khanna R. Selective targeting of NaV1.7 via inhibition of the CRMP2-Ubc9 interaction reduces pain in rodents. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabh1314. [PMID: 34757807 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abh1314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The voltage-gated sodium NaV1.7 channel, critical for sensing pain, has been actively targeted by drug developers; however, there are currently no effective and safe therapies targeting NaV1.7. Here, we tested whether a different approach, indirect NaV1.7 regulation, could have antinociceptive effects in preclinical models. We found that preventing addition of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) on the NaV1.7-interacting cytosolic collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) blocked NaV1.7 functions and had antinociceptive effects in rodents. In silico targeting of the SUMOylation site in CRMP2 (Lys374) identified >200 hits, of which compound 194 exhibited selective in vitro and ex vivo NaV1.7 engagement. Orally administered 194 was not only antinociceptive in preclinical models of acute and chronic pain but also demonstrated synergy alongside other analgesics—without eliciting addiction, rewarding properties, or neurotoxicity. Analgesia conferred by 194 was opioid receptor dependent. Our results demonstrate that 194 is a first-in-class protein-protein inhibitor that capitalizes on CRMP2-NaV1.7 regulation to deliver safe analgesia in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Cai
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Aubin Moutal
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Lindsey A Chew
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Jörg Isensee
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Translational Pain Research, University Hospital of Cologne, University Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str 9, Cologne D-50931, Germany
| | - Reena Chawla
- BIO5 Institute, 1657 East Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Kimberly Gomez
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Shizhen Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Aude Chefdeville
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Cynthia Madura
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Samantha Perez-Miller
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
- Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Shreya Sai Bellampalli
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Angie Dorame
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - David D Scott
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Liberty François-Moutal
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Zhiming Shan
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Taylor Woodward
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Program in Neuroscience and Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-2204, USA
| | - Vijay Gokhale
- BIO5 Institute, 1657 East Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, 1703 East Mabel Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Andrea G Hohmann
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Program in Neuroscience and Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-2204, USA
| | - Todd W Vanderah
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
- Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Marcel Patek
- Regulonix LLC, 1555 E. Entrada Segunda, Tucson, AZ 85718, USA
- Bright Rock Path LLC, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - May Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
- BIO5 Institute, 1657 East Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Regulonix LLC, 1555 E. Entrada Segunda, Tucson, AZ 85718, USA
| | - Tim Hucho
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Translational Pain Research, University Hospital of Cologne, University Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str 9, Cologne D-50931, Germany
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
- BIO5 Institute, 1657 East Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
- Regulonix LLC, 1555 E. Entrada Segunda, Tucson, AZ 85718, USA
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The cellular and molecular basis of somatosensory neuron development. Neuron 2021; 109:3736-3757. [PMID: 34592169 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Primary somatosensory neurons convey salient information about our external environment and internal state to the CNS, allowing us to detect, perceive, and react to a wide range of innocuous and noxious stimuli. Pseudo-unipolar in shape, and among the largest (longest) cells of most mammals, dorsal root ganglia (DRG) somatosensory neurons have peripheral axons that extend into skin, muscle, viscera, or bone and central axons that innervate the spinal cord and brainstem, where they synaptically engage the central somatosensory circuitry. Here, we review the diversity of mammalian DRG neuron subtypes and the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms that control their development. We describe classical and contemporary advances that frame our understanding of DRG neurogenesis, transcriptional specification of DRG neurons, and the establishment of morphological, physiological, and synaptic diversification across somatosensory neuron subtypes.
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29
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Zhao G, Shi Y, Gong C, Liu T, Nan W, Ma L, Wu Z, Da C, Zhou K, Zhang H. Curcumin Exerts Antinociceptive Effects in Cancer-Induced Bone Pain via an Endogenous Opioid Mechanism. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:696861. [PMID: 34539332 PMCID: PMC8446608 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.696861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer pain is one of the main complications in advanced cancer patients, and its management is still challenging. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel pharmacotherapy for cancer pain. Several natural products have attracted the interest of researchers. In previous studies, curcumin has proved to exhibit antitumor, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. However, the analgesic mechanism of curcumin has not been elucidated. Thus, in this study, we aimed to elucidate the antinociceptive potency and analgesic mechanism of curcumin in cancer-induced bone pain. Our results showed that consecutive curcumin treatment (30, 60, 120 mg/kg, i.p., twice daily for 11 days) produced significant analgesic activity, but had no effect on the progress of the bone cancer pain. Notably, pretreatment with naloxone, a non-selective opioid receptor antagonist, markedly reversed the antinociceptive effect induced by curcumin. Moreover, in primary cultured rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, curcumin significantly up-regulated the expression of proopiomelanocortin (Pomc) and promoted the release of β-endorphin and enkephalin. Furthermore, pretreatment with the antiserum of β-endorphin or enkephalin markedly attenuated curcumin-induced analgesia in cancer-induced bone pain. Our present study, for the first time, showed that curcumin attenuates cancer-induced bone pain. The results also suggested that stimulation of expression of DRG neurons β-endorphin and enkephalin mediates the antinociceptive effect of curcumin in pain hypersensitivity conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanghai Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Orthopaedics Key Laboratory of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yongqiang Shi
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Orthopaedics Key Laboratory of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chaoyang Gong
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Orthopaedics Key Laboratory of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Taicong Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Orthopaedics Key Laboratory of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wei Nan
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lin Ma
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Orthopaedics Key Laboratory of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zuolong Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Orthopaedics Key Laboratory of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chaoming Da
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Orthopaedics Key Laboratory of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Kaisheng Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Haihong Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Orthopaedics Key Laboratory of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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30
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De Ridder D, Adhia D, Vanneste S. The anatomy of pain and suffering in the brain and its clinical implications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 130:125-146. [PMID: 34411559 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Chronic pain, with a prevalence of 20-30 % is the major cause of human suffering worldwide, because effective, specific and safe therapies have yet to be developed. It is unevenly distributed among sexes, with women experiencing more pain and suffering. Chronic pain can be anatomically and phenomenologically dissected into three separable but interacting pathways, a lateral 'painfulness' pathway, a medial 'suffering' pathway and a descending pain inhibitory pathway. One may have pain(fullness) without suffering and suffering without pain(fullness). Pain sensation leads to suffering via a cognitive, emotional and autonomic processing, and is expressed as anger, fear, frustration, anxiety and depression. The medial pathway overlaps with the salience and stress networks, explaining that behavioural relevance or meaning determines the suffering associated with painfulness. Genetic and epigenetic influences trigger chronic neuroinflammatory changes which are involved in transitioning from acute to chronic pain. Based on the concept of the Bayesian brain, pain (and suffering) can be regarded as the consequence of an imbalance between the two ascending and the descending pain inhibitory pathways under control of the reward system. The therapeutic clinical implications of this simple pain model are obvious. After categorizing the working mechanisms of each of the available treatments (pain killers, psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, neuromodulation, psychosurgery, spinal cord stimulation) to 1 or more of the 3 pathways, a rational combination can be proposed of activating the descending pain inhibitory pathway in combination with inhibition of the medial and lateral pathway, so as to rebalance the pain (and suffering) pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk De Ridder
- Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - Divya Adhia
- Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sven Vanneste
- Global Brain Health Institute, Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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31
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Jiang Y, Castro J, Blomster LV, Agwa AJ, Maddern J, Schober G, Herzig V, Chow CY, Cardoso FC, Demétrio De Souza França P, Gonzales J, Schroeder CI, Esche S, Reiner T, Brierley SM, King GF. Pharmacological Inhibition of the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Na V1.7 Alleviates Chronic Visceral Pain in a Rodent Model of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2021; 4:1362-1378. [PMID: 34423271 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The human nociceptor-specific voltage-gated sodium channel 1.7 (hNaV1.7) is critical for sensing various types of somatic pain, but it appears not to play a primary role in acute visceral pain. However, its role in chronic visceral pain remains to be determined. We used assay-guided fractionation to isolate a novel hNaV1.7 inhibitor, Tsp1a, from tarantula venom. Tsp1a is 28-residue peptide that potently inhibits hNaV1.7 (IC50 = 10 nM), with greater than 100-fold selectivity over hNaV1.3-hNaV1.6, 45-fold selectivity over hNaV1.1, and 24-fold selectivity over hNaV1.2. Tsp1a is a gating modifier that inhibits NaV1.7 by inducing a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence of channel inactivation and slowing recovery from fast inactivation. NMR studies revealed that Tsp1a adopts a classical knottin fold, and like many knottin peptides, it is exceptionally stable in human serum. Remarkably, intracolonic administration of Tsp1a completely reversed chronic visceral hypersensitivity in a mouse model of irritable bowel syndrome. The ability of Tsp1a to reduce visceral hypersensitivity in a model of irritable bowel syndrome suggests that pharmacological inhibition of hNaV1.7 at peripheral sensory nerve endings might be a viable approach for eliciting analgesia in patients suffering from chronic visceral pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Jiang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Joel Castro
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Linda V Blomster
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Akello J Agwa
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jessica Maddern
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Gudrun Schober
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Volker Herzig
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Chun Yuen Chow
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Fernanda C Cardoso
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Paula Demétrio De Souza França
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001, Brazil
| | - Junior Gonzales
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | | | - Thomas Reiner
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States.,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10021, United States
| | - Stuart M Brierley
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia.,Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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32
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Locus revealed: Painlessness via loss of Na V1.7 at central terminals of sensory neurons. Neuron 2021; 109:1413-1416. [PMID: 33957067 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
How genetic loss of the sodium channel NaV1.7 results in painlessness is puzzling. MacDonald et al. (2021) demonstrate that instead of impairing peripheral excitability, NaV1.7 channels at central terminals of pain-sensing afferents play a pivotal role in the balance between pain and analgesia.
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33
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MacDonald DI, Sikandar S, Weiss J, Pyrski M, Luiz AP, Millet Q, Emery EC, Mancini F, Iannetti GD, Alles SRA, Arcangeletti M, Zhao J, Cox JJ, Brownstone RM, Zufall F, Wood JN. A central mechanism of analgesia in mice and humans lacking the sodium channel Na V1.7. Neuron 2021; 109:1497-1512.e6. [PMID: 33823138 PMCID: PMC8110947 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Deletion of SCN9A encoding the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.7 in humans leads to profound pain insensitivity and anosmia. Conditional deletion of NaV1.7 in sensory neurons of mice also abolishes pain, suggesting that the locus of analgesia is the nociceptor. Here we demonstrate, using in vivo calcium imaging and extracellular recording, that NaV1.7 knockout mice have essentially normal nociceptor activity. However, synaptic transmission from nociceptor central terminals in the spinal cord is greatly reduced by an opioid-dependent mechanism. Analgesia is also reversed substantially by central but not peripheral application of opioid antagonists. In contrast, the lack of neurotransmitter release from olfactory sensory neurons is opioid independent. Male and female humans with NaV1.7-null mutations show naloxone-reversible analgesia. Thus, inhibition of neurotransmitter release is the principal mechanism of anosmia and analgesia in mouse and human Nav1.7-null mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald Iain MacDonald
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Shafaq Sikandar
- Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Jan Weiss
- Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Martina Pyrski
- Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Ana P Luiz
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Queensta Millet
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Edward C Emery
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Flavia Mancini
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Gian D Iannetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK; Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Sascha R A Alles
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Manuel Arcangeletti
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jing Zhao
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - James J Cox
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | | | - Frank Zufall
- Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - John N Wood
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
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34
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Goodwin G, McMahon SB. The physiological function of different voltage-gated sodium channels in pain. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:263-274. [PMID: 33782571 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00444-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Evidence from human genetic pain disorders shows that voltage-gated sodium channel α-subtypes Nav1.7, Nav1.8 and Nav1.9 are important in the peripheral signalling of pain. Nav1.7 is of particular interest because individuals with Nav1.7 loss-of-function mutations are congenitally insensitive to acute and chronic pain, and there is considerable hope that phenocopying these effects with a pharmacological antagonist will produce a new class of analgesic drug. However, studies in these rare individuals do not reveal how and where voltage-gated sodium channels contribute to pain signalling, which is of critical importance for drug development. More than a decade of research utilizing rodent genetic models and pharmacological tools to study voltage-gated sodium channels in pain has begun to unravel the role of different subtypes. Here, we review the contribution of individual channel subtypes in three key physiological processes necessary for transmission of sensory information to the CNS: transduction of stimuli at peripheral nerve terminals, axonal transmission of action potentials and neurotransmitter release from central terminals. These data suggest that drugs seeking to recapitulate the analgesic effects of loss of function of Nav1.7 will need to be brain-penetrant - which most of those developed to date are not.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Goodwin
- Pain and Neurorestoration Group, King's College London, London, UK.
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35
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Mohammed ZA, Kaloyanova K, Nassar MA. An unbiased and efficient assessment of excitability of sensory neurons for analgesic drug discovery. Pain 2021; 161:1100-1108. [PMID: 31929383 PMCID: PMC7170445 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Distinct veratridine-induced calcium responses in nociceptors and non-nociceptors allow for unbiased and efficient assessment of drugs' action on both populations separately but simultaneously. Alleviating chronic pain is challenging, due to lack of drugs that effectively inhibit nociceptors without off-target effects on motor or central neurons. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) contain nociceptive and non-nociceptive neurons. Drug screening on cultured DRG neurons, rather than cell lines, allows for the identification of drugs most potent on nociceptors with no effects on non-nociceptors (as a proxy for unwanted side effects on central nervous system and motor neurons). However, screening using DRG neurons is currently a low-throughput process, and there is a need for assays to speed this process for analgesic drug discovery. We previously showed that veratridine elicits distinct response profiles in sensory neurons. Here, we show evidence that a veratridine-based calcium assay allows for an unbiased and efficient assessment of a drug effect on nociceptors (targeted neurons) and non-nociceptors (nontargeted neurons). We confirmed the link between the oscillatory profile and nociceptors, and the slow-decay profile and non-nociceptors using 3 transgenic mouse lines of known pain phenotypes. We used the assay to show that blockers for Nav1.7 and Nav1.8 channels, which are validated targets for analgesics, affect non-nociceptors at concentrations needed to effectively inhibit nociceptors. However, a combination of low doses of both blockers had an additive effect on nociceptors without a significant effect on non-nociceptors, indicating that the assay can also be used to screen for combinations of existing or novel drugs for the greatest selective inhibition of nociceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zainab A Mohammed
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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36
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Huang L, Xu G, Jiang R, Luo Y, Zuo Y, Liu J. Development of Non-opioid Analgesics Targeting Two-pore Domain Potassium Channels. Curr Neuropharmacol 2021; 20:16-26. [PMID: 33827408 PMCID: PMC9199554 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666210407152528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels are a diverse family of potassium channels. K2P channels generate background leak potassium currents to regulate cellular excitability and are thereby involved in a wide range of neurological disorders. K2P channels are modulated by a variety of physicochemical factors such as mechanical stretch, temperature, and pH. In the the peripheral nervous system (PNS), K2P channels are widely expressed in nociceptive neurons and play a critical roles in pain perception. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the pharmacological properties of K2P channels, with a focus on the exogenous small-molecule activators targeting K2P channels. We emphasize the subtype-selectivity, cellular and in vivo pharmacological properties of all the reported small-molecule activators. The key underlying analgesic mechanisms mediated by K2P are also summarized based on the data in the literature from studies using small-molecule activators and genetic knock-out animals. We discuss advantages and limitations of the translational perspectives of K2P in pain medicine and provide outstanding questions for future studies in the end.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Huang
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan. China
| | - Guangyin Xu
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu. China
| | - Ruotian Jiang
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan. China
| | - Yuncheng Luo
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan. China
| | - Yunxia Zuo
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan. China
| | - Jin Liu
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan. China
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37
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Beckley JT, Pajouhesh H, Luu G, Klas S, Delwig A, Monteleone D, Zhou X, Giuvelis D, Meng ID, Yeomans DC, Hunter JC, Mulcahy JV. Antinociceptive properties of an isoform-selective inhibitor of Nav1.7 derived from saxitoxin in mouse models of pain. Pain 2021; 162:1250-1261. [PMID: 33086288 PMCID: PMC9359086 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7 is highly expressed in nociceptive afferents and is critically involved in pain signal transmission. Nav1.7 is a genetically validated pain target in humans because loss-of-function mutations cause congenital insensitivity to pain and gain-of-function mutations cause severe pain syndromes. Consequently, pharmacological inhibition has been investigated as an analgesic therapeutic strategy. We describe a small molecule Nav1.7 inhibitor, ST-2530, that is an analog of the naturally occurring sodium channel blocker saxitoxin. When evaluated against human Nav1.7 by patch-clamp electrophysiology using a protocol that favors the resting state, the Kd of ST-2530 was 25 ± 7 nM. ST-2530 exhibited greater than 500-fold selectivity over human voltage-gated sodium channel isoforms Nav1.1-Nav1.6 and Nav1.8. Although ST-2530 had lower affinity against mouse Nav1.7 (Kd = 250 ± 40 nM), potency was sufficient to assess analgesic efficacy in mouse pain models. A 3-mg/kg dose administered subcutaneously was broadly analgesic in acute pain models using noxious thermal, mechanical, and chemical stimuli. ST-2530 also reversed thermal hypersensitivity after a surgical incision on the plantar surface of the hind paw. In the spared nerve injury model of neuropathic pain, ST-2530 transiently reversed mechanical allodynia. These analgesic effects were demonstrated at doses that did not affect locomotion, motor coordination, or olfaction. Collectively, results from this study indicate that pharmacological inhibition of Nav1.7 by a small molecule agent with affinity for the resting state of the channel is sufficient to produce analgesia in a range of preclinical pain models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob T Beckley
- SiteOne Therapeutics, 351 Evergreen Drive, Suite B-1, Bozeman, MT 59715
| | - Hassan Pajouhesh
- SiteOne Therapeutics, 280 Utah Avenue, Suite 250, South San Francisco, CA 94080
| | - George Luu
- SiteOne Therapeutics, 280 Utah Avenue, Suite 250, South San Francisco, CA 94080
| | - Sheri Klas
- SiteOne Therapeutics, 351 Evergreen Drive, Suite B-1, Bozeman, MT 59715
| | - Anton Delwig
- SiteOne Therapeutics, 280 Utah Avenue, Suite 250, South San Francisco, CA 94080
| | - Dennis Monteleone
- SiteOne Therapeutics, 280 Utah Avenue, Suite 250, South San Francisco, CA 94080
| | - Xiang Zhou
- SiteOne Therapeutics, 280 Utah Avenue, Suite 250, South San Francisco, CA 94080
| | - Denise Giuvelis
- University of New England, Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, Biddeford, ME 04005
| | - Ian D Meng
- University of New England, Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, Biddeford, ME 04005
| | | | - John C Hunter
- SiteOne Therapeutics, 280 Utah Avenue, Suite 250, South San Francisco, CA 94080
| | - John V Mulcahy
- SiteOne Therapeutics, 280 Utah Avenue, Suite 250, South San Francisco, CA 94080
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38
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Xue Y, Chidiac C, Herault Y, Gaveriaux-Ruff C. Pain behavior in SCN9A (Nav1.7) and SCN10A (Nav1.8) mutant rodent models. Neurosci Lett 2021; 753:135844. [PMID: 33775738 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The two voltage gated sodium channels Nav1.7 and Nav1.8 are expressed in the peripheral nervous system and involved in various pain conditions including inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Rodent models bearing deletions or mutations of the corresponding genes, Scn9a and Scn10a, were created in order to understand the role of these channels in the pathophysiological mechanism underlying pain symptoms. This review summarizes the pain behavior profiles reported in Scn9a and Scn10a rodent models. The complete loss-of-function or knockout (KO) of Scn9a or Scn10a and the conditional KO (cKO) of Scn9a in specific cell populations were shown to decrease sensitivity to various pain stimuli. The Possum mutant mice bearing a dominant hypermorphic mutation in Scn10a revealed higher sensitivity to noxious stimuli. Several gain-of-function mutations were identified in patients with painful small fiber neuropathy. Future knowledge obtained from preclinical models bearing these mutations will allow understanding how these mutations affect pain. In addition, the review gives perspectives for creating models that better mimic patients' pain symptoms in view to developing novel analgesic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Xue
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC) Translational Medicine and Neurogenetics Department, Illkirch, France
| | - Celeste Chidiac
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC) Translational Medicine and Neurogenetics Department, Illkirch, France
| | - Yann Herault
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC) Translational Medicine and Neurogenetics Department, Illkirch, France.
| | - Claire Gaveriaux-Ruff
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC) Translational Medicine and Neurogenetics Department, Illkirch, France
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39
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Loss of bhlha9 Impairs Thermotaxis and Formalin-Evoked Pain in a Sexually Dimorphic Manner. Cell Rep 2021; 30:602-610.e6. [PMID: 31968239 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.12.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
C-LTMRs are known to convey affective aspects of touch and to modulate injury-induced pain in humans and mice. However, a role for these neurons in temperature sensation has been suggested, but not fully demonstrated. Here, we report that deletion of C-low-threshold mechanoreceptor (C-LTMR)-expressed bhlha9 causes impaired thermotaxis behavior and exacerbated formalin-evoked pain in male, but not female, mice. Positive modulators of GABAA receptors failed to relieve inflammatory formalin pain and failed to decrease the frequency of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents (sEPSCs) selectively in bhlha9 knockout (KO) males. This could be explained by a drastic change in the GABA content of lamina II inner inhibitory interneurons contacting C-LTMR central terminals. Finally, C-LTMR-specific deep RNA sequencing revealed more genes differentially expressed in male than in female bhlha9 KO C-LTMRs. Our data consolidate the role of C-LTMRs in modulation of formalin pain and provide in vivo evidence of their role in the discriminative aspects of temperature sensation.
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Moreno AM, Alemán F, Catroli GF, Hunt M, Hu M, Dailamy A, Pla A, Woller SA, Palmer N, Parekh U, McDonald D, Roberts AJ, Goodwill V, Dryden I, Hevner RF, Delay L, Gonçalves Dos Santos G, Yaksh TL, Mali P. Long-lasting analgesia via targeted in situ repression of Na V1.7 in mice. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eaay9056. [PMID: 33692134 PMCID: PMC8830379 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aay9056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Current treatments for chronic pain rely largely on opioids despite their substantial side effects and risk of addiction. Genetic studies have identified in humans key targets pivotal to nociceptive processing. In particular, a hereditary loss-of-function mutation in NaV1.7, a sodium channel protein associated with signaling in nociceptive sensory afferents, leads to insensitivity to pain without other neurodevelopmental alterations. However, the high sequence and structural similarity between NaV subtypes has frustrated efforts to develop selective inhibitors. Here, we investigated targeted epigenetic repression of NaV1.7 in primary afferents via epigenome engineering approaches based on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-dCas9 and zinc finger proteins at the spinal level as a potential treatment for chronic pain. Toward this end, we first optimized the efficiency of NaV1.7 repression in vitro in Neuro2A cells and then, by the lumbar intrathecal route, delivered both epigenome engineering platforms via adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) to assess their effects in three mouse models of pain: carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain, paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain, and BzATP-induced pain. Our results show effective repression of NaV1.7 in lumbar dorsal root ganglia, reduced thermal hyperalgesia in the inflammatory state, decreased tactile allodynia in the neuropathic state, and no changes in normal motor function in mice. We anticipate that this long-lasting analgesia via targeted in vivo epigenetic repression of NaV1.7 methodology we dub pain LATER, might have therapeutic potential in management of persistent pain states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Moreno
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Fernando Alemán
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Glaucilene F Catroli
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Matthew Hunt
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Michael Hu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Amir Dailamy
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Andrew Pla
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sarah A Woller
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nathan Palmer
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego , San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Udit Parekh
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California San Diego , San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Daniella McDonald
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Amanda J Roberts
- Animal Models Core, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Vanessa Goodwill
- Department of Neuropathology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ian Dryden
- Department of Neuropathology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Robert F Hevner
- Department of Neuropathology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Lauriane Delay
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | | | - Tony L Yaksh
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Prashant Mali
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA.
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McArthur JR, Munasinghe NR, Finol-Urdaneta RK, Adams DJ, Christie MJ. Spider Venom Peptide Pn3a Inhibition of Primary Afferent High Voltage-Activated Calcium Channels. Front Pharmacol 2021; 11:633679. [PMID: 33584315 PMCID: PMC7875911 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.633679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite potently inhibiting the nociceptive voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channel, Nav1.7, µ-theraphotoxin Pn3a is antinociceptive only upon co-administration with sub-therapeutic opioid agonists, or by itself at doses >3,000-fold greater than its Nav1.7 IC50 by a yet undefined mechanism. Nav channels are structurally related to voltage-gated calcium (Cav) channels, Cav1 and Cav2. These channels mediate the high voltage-activated (HVA) calcium currents (ICa) that orchestrate synaptic transmission in nociceptive dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and are fine-tuned by opioid receptor (OR) activity. Using whole-cell patch clamp recording, we found that Pn3a (10 µM) inhibits ∼55% of rat DRG neuron HVA-ICa and 60–80% of Cav1.2, Cav1.3, Cav2.1, and Cav2.2 mediated currents in HEK293 cells, with no inhibition of Cav2.3. As a major DRG ICa component, Cav2.2 inhibition by Pn3a (IC50 = 3.71 ± 0.21 µM) arises from an 18 mV hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of inactivation. We observed that co-application of Pn3a and µ-OR agonist DAMGO results in enhanced HVA-ICa inhibition in DRG neurons whereas co-application of Pn3a with the OR antagonist naloxone does not, underscoring HVA channels as shared targets of Pn3a and opioids. We provide evidence that Pn3a inhibits native and recombinant HVA Cavs at previously reportedly antinociceptive concentrations in animal pain models. We show additive modulation of DRG HVA-ICa by sequential application of low Pn3a doses and sub-therapeutic opioids ligands. We propose Pn3a's antinociceptive effects result, at least in part, from direct inhibition of HVA-ICa at high Pn3a doses, or through additive inhibition by low Pn3a and mild OR activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R McArthur
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Nehan R Munasinghe
- Discipline of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rocio K Finol-Urdaneta
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,Electrophysiology Facility for Cell Phenotyping and Drug Discovery, IHMRI, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - David J Adams
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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Tricklebank MD, Robbins TW, Simmons C, Wong EHF. Time to re-engage psychiatric drug discovery by strengthening confidence in preclinical psychopharmacology. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:1417-1436. [PMID: 33694032 PMCID: PMC7945970 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05787-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is urgent need for new medications for psychiatric disorders. Mental illness is expected to become the leading cause of disability worldwide by 2030. Yet, the last two decades have seen the pharmaceutical industry withdraw from psychiatric drug discovery after costly late-stage trial failures in which clinical efficacy predicted pre-clinically has not materialised, leading to a crisis in confidence in preclinical psychopharmacology. METHODS Based on a review of the relevant literature, we formulated some principles for improving investment in translational neuroscience aimed at psychiatric drug discovery. RESULTS We propose the following 8 principles that could be used, in various combinations, to enhance CNS drug discovery: (1) consider incorporating the NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) approach; (2) engage the power of translational and systems neuroscience approaches; (3) use disease-relevant experimental perturbations; (4) identify molecular targets via genomic analysis and patient-derived pluripotent stem cells; (5) embrace holistic neuroscience: a partnership with psychoneuroimmunology; (6) use translational measures of neuronal activation; (7) validate the reproducibility of findings by independent collaboration; and (8) learn and reflect. We provide recent examples of promising animal-to-human translation of drug discovery projects and highlight some that present re-purposing opportunities. CONCLUSIONS We hope that this review will re-awaken the pharma industry and mental health advocates to the opportunities for improving psychiatric pharmacotherapy and so restore confidence and justify re-investment in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark David Tricklebank
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK.
| | - Trevor W. Robbins
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, CB23EB, Cambridge, UK
| | - Camilla Simmons
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College, London, UK
| | - Erik H. F. Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Eagles DA, Chow CY, King GF. Fifteen years of Na
V
1.7 channels as an analgesic target: Why has excellent in vitro pharmacology not translated into in vivo analgesic efficacy? Br J Pharmacol 2020; 179:3592-3611. [DOI: 10.1111/bph.15327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Eagles
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland St Lucia QLD Australia
| | - Chun Yuen Chow
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland St Lucia QLD Australia
| | - Glenn F. King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland St Lucia QLD Australia
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Wang M, Thyagarajan B. Pain pathways and potential new targets for pain relief. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2020; 69:110-123. [PMID: 33316085 DOI: 10.1002/bab.2086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that affects a sizable percentage of people on a daily basis. Sensory neurons known as nociceptors built specifically to detect damaging stimuli can be found throughout the body. They transmit information about noxious stimuli from mechanical, thermal, and chemical sources to the central nervous system and higher brain centers via electrical signals. Nociceptors express various channels and receptors such as voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels, transient receptor potential channels, and opioid receptors that allow them to respond in a highly specific manner to noxious stimuli. Attenuating the pain response can be achieved by inhibiting or altering the expression of these pain targets. Achieving a deeper understanding of how these receptors can be affected at the molecular level can lead to the development of novel pain therapies. This review will discuss the mechanisms of pain, introduce the various receptors that are responsible for detecting pain, and future directions in pharmacological therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menglan Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Baskaran Thyagarajan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
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Lampert A, Bennett DL, McDermott LA, Neureiter A, Eberhardt E, Winner B, Zenke M. Human sensory neurons derived from pluripotent stem cells for disease modelling and personalized medicine. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN 2020; 8:100055. [PMID: 33364527 PMCID: PMC7750732 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2020.100055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
New techniques emerge to study peripheral sensory neurons in iPS-cell derived models. Genetic pain syndromes, e.g. gain- and loss-of-function mutations in Nav-channels are helpful. Individualized treatment for neuropathic pain can be identified with iPS-cell derived nociceptors.
In this concise Mini-Review we will summarize ongoing developments of new techniques to study physiology and pathophysiology of the peripheral sensory nervous system in human stem cell derived models. We will focus on recent developments of reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells, neural differentiation towards neuronal progenitors and human sensory neurons. We will sum up the high potential of this new technique for disease modelling of human neuropathies with a focus on genetic pain syndromes, such as gain- and loss-of-function mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels. The stem cell derived human sensory neurons are used for drug testing and we will summarize their usefulness for individualized treatment identification in patients with neuropathic pain. The review will give an outlook on potential application of this technique as companion diagnostics and for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David L Bennett
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Lucy A McDermott
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, UK.,Wadham College, University of Oxford, UK
| | | | - Esther Eberhardt
- Department of Anesthesiology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.,Department of Stem Cell Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.,Department of Anesthesiology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
| | - Beate Winner
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
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Abstract
Primary nociceptors are a heterogeneous class of peripheral somatosensory neurons, responsible for detecting noxious, pruriceptive, and thermal stimuli. These neurons are further divided into several molecularly defined subtypes that correlate with their functional sensory modalities and morphological features. During development, all nociceptors arise from a common pool of embryonic precursors, and then segregate progressively into their mature specialized phenotypes. In this review, we summarize the intrinsic transcriptional programs and extrinsic trophic factor signaling mechanisms that interact to control nociceptor diversification. We also discuss how recent transcriptome profiling studies have significantly advanced the field of sensory neuron development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suna L Cranfill
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Wenqin Luo
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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Piezo2 Mediates Low-Threshold Mechanically Evoked Pain in the Cornea. J Neurosci 2020; 40:8976-8993. [PMID: 33055278 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0247-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian Piezo2 channels are essential for transduction of innocuous mechanical forces by proprioceptors and cutaneous touch receptors. In contrast, mechanical responses of somatosensory nociceptor neurons evoking pain, remain intact or are only partially reduced in Piezo2-deficient mice. In the eye cornea, comparatively low mechanical forces are detected by polymodal and pure mechanosensory trigeminal ganglion neurons. Their activation always evokes ocular discomfort or pain and protective reflexes, thus being a unique model to study mechanotransduction mechanisms in this particular class of nociceptive neurons. Cultured male and female mouse mechano- and polymodal nociceptor corneal neurons display rapidly, intermediately and slowly adapting mechanically activated currents. Immunostaining of the somas and peripheral axons of corneal neurons responding only to mechanical force (pure mechano-nociceptor) or also exhibiting TRPV1 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1) immunoreactivity (polymodal nociceptor) revealed that they express Piezo2. In sensory-specific Piezo2-deficient mice, the distribution of corneal neurons displaying the three types of mechanically evoked currents is similar to the wild type; however, the proportions of rapidly adapting neurons, and of intermediately and slowly adapting neurons were significantly reduced. Recordings of mechano- and polymodal-nociceptor nerve terminals in the corneal surface of Piezo2 conditional knock-out mice revealed a reduced number of mechano-sensitive terminals and lower frequency of nerve terminal impulse discharges under mechanical stimulation. Eye blinks evoked by von Frey filaments applied on the cornea were lower in Piezo2-deficient mice compared with wild type. Together, our results provide direct evidence that Piezo2 channels support mechanically activated currents of different kinetics in corneal trigeminal neurons and contributes to transduction of mechanical forces by corneal nociceptors.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The cornea is a richly innervated and highly sensitive tissue. Low-threshold mechanical forces activate corneal receptors evoking discomfort or pain. To examine the contribution of Piezo2, a low-threshold mechanically activated channel, to acute ocular pain, we characterized the mechanosensitivity of corneal sensory neurons. By using Piezo2 conditional knock-out mice, we show that Piezo2 channels, present in the cell body and terminals of corneal neurons, are directly involved in acute corneal mechano-nociception. Inhibition of Piezo2 for systemic pain treatment is hindered because of its essential role for mechano-transduction processes in multiple body organs. Still, topical modulation of Piezo2 in the cornea may be useful to selectively relief unpleasant sensations and pain associated with mechanical irritation accompanying many ocular surface disorders.
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Cox JJ, Woods CG, Kurth I. Peripheral sensory neuropathies – pain loss vs. pain gain. MED GENET-BERLIN 2020. [DOI: 10.1515/medgen-2020-2039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Peripheral sensory neurons are afferent neurons that innervate the skin, joints, bones, muscles, and mucosal tissues. By converting different stimuli into action potentials, they transmit signals for the sensing of temperature, touch, pressure, or pain. This review discusses the known Mendelian disorders which affect pain sensing in humans. For painlessness, these disorders can be classified as developmental, neurodegenerative, or functional, where pain-sensing neurons (nociceptors) are present but cannot be activated or produce action potentials. Affected patients suffer from numbness with recurrent injuries, burns, and poorly healing wounds. For Mendelian disorders of excess pain, aberrant overactivity of nociceptors is a hallmark and leads to paroxysmal or continuous pain states. Again, the effect can be functional or, as in small fiber neuropathies, can be accompanied by degeneration of small unmyelinated nerve fibers in the skin. About 20 different genes are known to cause Mendelian pain disorders and the molecules involved are of general interest for human pain research and as analgesic targets. Comprehensive genetic testing is the key to early diagnosis and adaptation of clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Cox
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research , University College London , London , UK
| | - C. Geoffrey Woods
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, The Clinical Medical School , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | - Ingo Kurth
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty , Uniklinik RWTH Aachen , Pauwelsstr. 30 , Aachen , Germany
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Posa L, Lopez-Canul M, Rullo L, De Gregorio D, Dominguez-Lopez S, Kaba Aboud M, Caputi FF, Candeletti S, Romualdi P, Gobbi G. Nociceptive responses in melatonin MT 2 receptor knockout mice compared to MT 1 and double MT 1 /MT 2 receptor knockout mice. J Pineal Res 2020; 69:e12671. [PMID: 32430930 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Melatonin, a neurohormone that binds to two G protein-coupled receptors MT1 and MT2, is involved in pain regulation, but the distinct role of each receptor has yet to be defined. We characterized the nociceptive responses of mice with genetic inactivation of melatonin MT1 (MT1 -/- ), or MT2 (MT2 -/- ), or both MT1 /MT2 (MT1 -/- /MT2 -/- ) receptors in the hot plate test (HPT), and the formalin test (FT). In HPT and FT, MT1 -/- display no differences compared to their wild-type littermates (CTL), whereas both MT2 -/- and MT1 -/- /MT2 -/- mice showed a reduced thermal sensitivity and a decreased tonic nocifensive behavior during phase 2 of the FT in the light phase. The MT2 partial agonist UCM924 induced an antinociceptive effect in MT1 -/- but not in MT2 -/- and MT1 -/- /MT2 -/- mice. Also, the competitive opioid antagonist naloxone had no effects in CTL, whereas it induced a decrease of nociceptive thresholds in MT2 -/- mice. Our results show that the genetic inactivation of melatonin MT2 , but not MT1 receptors, produces a distinct effect on nociceptive threshold, suggesting that the melatonin MT2 receptor subtype is selectively involved in the regulation of pain responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Posa
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Martha Lopez-Canul
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Laura Rullo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Danilo De Gregorio
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sergio Dominguez-Lopez
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Matthew Kaba Aboud
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Francesca Felicia Caputi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sanzio Candeletti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Romualdi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gabriella Gobbi
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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50
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Chandra S, Wang Z, Tao X, Chen O, Luo X, Ji RR, Bortsov AV. Computer-aided Discovery of a New Nav1.7 Inhibitor for Treatment of Pain and Itch. Anesthesiology 2020; 133:611-627. [PMID: 32788559 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000003427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7 has been validated as a perspective target for selective inhibitors with analgesic and anti-itch activity. The objective of this study was to discover new candidate compounds with Nav1.7 inhibitor properties. The authors hypothesized that their approach would yield at least one new compound that inhibits sodium currents in vitro and exerts analgesic and anti-itch effects in mice. METHODS In silico structure-based similarity search of 1.5 million compounds followed by docking to the Nav1.7 voltage sensor of Domain 4 and molecular dynamics simulation was performed. Patch clamp experiments in Nav1.7-expressing human embryonic kidney 293 cells and in mouse and human dorsal root ganglion neurons were conducted to test sodium current inhibition. Formalin-induced inflammatory pain model, paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain model, histamine-induced itch model, and mouse lymphoma model of chronic itch were used to confirm in vivo activity of the selected compound. RESULTS After in silico screening, nine compounds were selected for experimental assessment in vitro. Of those, four compounds inhibited sodium currents in Nav1.7-expressing human embryonic kidney 293 cells by 29% or greater (P < 0.05). Compound 9 (3-(1-benzyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-3-(3-phenoxyphenyl)-N-(2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethyl)propanamide, referred to as DA-0218) reduced sodium current by 80% with a 50% inhibition concentration of 0.74 μM (95% CI, 0.35 to 1.56 μM), but had no effects on Nav1.5-expressing human embryonic kidney 293 cells. In mouse and human dorsal root ganglion neurons, DA-0218 reduced sodium currents by 17% (95% CI, 6 to 28%) and 22% (95% CI, 9 to 35%), respectively. The inhibition was greatly potentiated in paclitaxel-treated mouse neurons. Intraperitoneal and intrathecal administration of the compound reduced formalin-induced phase II inflammatory pain behavior in mice by 76% (95% CI, 48 to 100%) and 80% (95% CI, 68 to 92%), respectively. Intrathecal administration of DA-0218 produced acute reduction in paclitaxel-induced mechanical allodynia, and inhibited histamine-induced acute itch and lymphoma-induced chronic itch. CONCLUSIONS This study's computer-aided drug discovery approach yielded a new Nav1.7 inhibitor that shows analgesic and anti-pruritic activity in mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharat Chandra
- From the Center for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina (S.C., Z.W., X.T., O.C., X.L., R.-R.J., A.V.B.) the Departments of Cell Biology (O.C., R.-R.J.) Neurobiology (R.-R.J.), Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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