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Wei N, Guo Z, Qiu M, Ye R, Shao X, Liang Y, Liu B, Fang J, Fang J, Du J. Astrocyte Activation in the ACC Contributes to Comorbid Anxiety in Chronic Inflammatory Pain and Involves in The Excitation-Inhibition Imbalance. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:6934-6949. [PMID: 38363535 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04027-5] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Neurons within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) orchestrate the co-occurrence of chronic pain and anxiety. The ACC hyperactivity plays a crucial role in the emotional impact of neuropathic pain. Astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammatory is responsible for regulating the balance between excitation-inhibition (E/I) in the brain. However, there is limited understanding of the possible contributions of astrocytes in the ACC to comorbidity of anxiety and chronic inflammatory pain. This paper aims to investigate the possible contribution of astrocytes in the ACC to the comorbidity between anxiety and chronic inflammatory pain, as well as their involvement in the E/I imbalance of pyramidal cells. Our results show that CFA rats displayed allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors. The E/I balance in the ACC shifts to excitement in comorbidity of chronic pain and anxiety by western blotting, and electrophysiological recording. Result of RNA-Seq also indicated that E/I imbalance and neuroinflammation of ACC were involved in pain-anxiety comorbidity. Then, positive cells of GFAP but not Iba1 in the contralateral ACC were increased; the mRNA expression of GFAP and its activation-related proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) in the contralateral ACC were also elevated. Furthermore, specific chemogenic inhibition of ACC astrocytes reversed comorbid pain and anxiety and suppressed high ACC excitability. Our data suggest that astrocytes participate in comorbid pain and anxiety and excitation-inhibition imbalance in ACC. Inhibition astrocyte activation can reduce anxiety related to pain and restore the imbalance in the ACC. These findings shed light on the involvement of astrocytes in comorbid conditions, offering valuable insights into a potential therapeutic approach for the co-occurrence of chronic pain and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naixuan Wei
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory for Research of Acupuncture Treatment and Transformation of Emotional Diseases, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Zi Guo
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory for Research of Acupuncture Treatment and Transformation of Emotional Diseases, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Mengting Qiu
- Fuchun Community Health Service Center of Fuyang District, Hangzhou, 311400, China
| | - Ru Ye
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory for Research of Acupuncture Treatment and Transformation of Emotional Diseases, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Xiaomei Shao
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory for Research of Acupuncture Treatment and Transformation of Emotional Diseases, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Yi Liang
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory for Research of Acupuncture Treatment and Transformation of Emotional Diseases, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Boyi Liu
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory for Research of Acupuncture Treatment and Transformation of Emotional Diseases, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Jianqiao Fang
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
- Key Laboratory for Research of Acupuncture Treatment and Transformation of Emotional Diseases, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
| | - Junfan Fang
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
- Key Laboratory for Research of Acupuncture Treatment and Transformation of Emotional Diseases, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
| | - Junying Du
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
- Key Laboratory for Research of Acupuncture Treatment and Transformation of Emotional Diseases, The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
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Potapenko IV, Ishikawa T, Okuda H, Hori K, Ozaki N. Chemogenetic inhibition of pain-related neurons in the posterior insula cortex reduces mechanical hyperalgesia and anxiety-like behavior during acute pain. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 734:150625. [PMID: 39236586 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Pain is a complex phenomenon that involves sensory, emotional, and cognitive components. The posterior insula cortex (pIC) has been shown to integrate multisensory experience with emotional and cognitive states. However, the involvement of the pIC in the regulation of affective behavior in pain remains unclear. Here, we investigate the role of pain-related pIC neurons in the regulation of anxiety-like behavior during acute pain. We combined a chemogenetic approach with targeted recombination in active populations (TRAP) in mice. Global chemogenetic inhibition of pIC neurons attenuates chemically-induced mechanical hypersensitivity without affecting pain-related anxiety-like behavior. In contrast, inhibition of pain-related pIC neurons reduces both mechanical hypersensitivity and pain-related anxiety-like behavior. The present study provides important insights into the role of pIC neurons in the regulation of sensory and affective pain-related behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Viktorovich Potapenko
- Department of Functional Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan; Department of Medical and Biological Physics, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Partizan Zheleznyak st. 1, 660022, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Tatsuya Ishikawa
- Department of Functional Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan.
| | - Hiroaki Okuda
- Department of Functional Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Kiyomi Hori
- Department of Functional Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Ozaki
- Department of Functional Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan.
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Qiu Y, Lian YN, Wu C, Liu L, Zhang C, Li XY. Coordination between midcingulate cortex and retrosplenial cortex in pain regulation. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1405532. [PMID: 39165718 PMCID: PMC11333351 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1405532] [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: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The cingulate cortex, with its subregions ACC, MCC, and RSC, is key in pain processing. However, the detailed interactions among these regions in modulating pain sensation have remained unclear. Methods In this study, chemogenetic tools were employed to selectively activate or inhibit neuronal activity in the MCC and RSC of rodents to elucidate their roles in pain regulation.Results: Our results showed that chemogenetic activation in both the RSC and MCC heightened pain sensitivity. Suppression of MCC activity disrupted the RSC's regulation of both mechanical and thermal pain, while RSC inhibition specifically affected the MCC's regulation of thermal pain. Discussion The findings indicate a complex interplay between the MCC and RSC, with the MCC potentially governing the RSC's pain regulatory mechanisms. The RSC, in turn, is crucial for the MCC's control over thermal sensation, revealing a collaborative mechanism in pain processing. Conclusion This study provides evidence for the MCC and RSC's collaborative roles in pain regulation, highlighting the importance of their interactions for thermal and mechanical pain sensitivity. Understanding these mechanisms could aid in developing targeted therapies for pain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunya Qiu
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain, Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Yan-Na Lian
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain, Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Cheng Wu
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain, Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Li Liu
- Core Facilities of the School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, Nanjing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair & Beijing Laboratory of Oral Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang-Yao Li
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain, Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
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Shao Y, Chen Y, Lan X, Lu J, Tang G, Tang S, Zhai R, Chen C, Xiong X, Shi J. Morin Regulates M1/M2 Microglial Polarization via NF-κB p65 to Alleviate Vincristine-Induced Neuropathic Pain. Drug Des Devel Ther 2024; 18:3143-3156. [PMID: 39071815 PMCID: PMC11278053 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s459757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Morin can alleviate vincristine-induced neuropathic pain via inhibiting neuroinflammation. Microglial cells play an important role in initiating and maintenance of pain and neuroinflammation. It remains unclear whether morin exerts antinociceptive properties through the regulation of microglial cells. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of morin against neuropathic pain focusing on microglial cells. Methods The thermal withdrawal latency and mechanical withdrawal threshold were used as measures of pain behaviours. Histological abnormalities of the sciatic nerve were observed with transmission electron microscopy. The sciatic functional index and the sciatic nerve conduction velocity were used as measures of the functional deficits of the sciatic nerve. Inflammatory factors were detected using ELISA. The expression of M1/M2 polarization markers of microglia and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 were measured by immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting. Results Morin alleviated vincristine-induced abnormal pain, sciatic nerve injury, and neuroinflammatory response in rats. Furthermore, morin decreased the expression of NF-κB P65 and M1 activation markers, increased the expression of M2 activation markers. Additionally, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate reversed the effects of morin on microglial polarization, the production of inflammatory factors and neuropathic pain, while ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate showed the opposite effects. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that morin inhibits neuroinflammation to alleviate vincristine-induced neuropathic pain via inhibiting the NF-κB signalling pathway to regulate M1/M2 microglial polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Shao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yunfu Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin Lan
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jun Lu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guangling Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sijie Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ruixue Zhai
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chao Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinglong Xiong
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Shi
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550001, People’s Republic of China
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Kissinger ST, O'neil E, Li B, Johnson KW, Krajewski JL, Kato AS. Distinctive Neurophysiological Signatures of Analgesia after Inflammatory Pain in the ACC of Freely Moving Mice. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e2231232024. [PMID: 38755005 PMCID: PMC11255429 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2231-23.2024] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Preclinical assessments of pain have often relied upon behavioral measurements and anesthetized neurophysiological recordings. Current technologies enabling large-scale neural recordings, however, have the potential to unveil quantifiable pain signals in conscious animals for preclinical studies. Although pain processing is distributed across many brain regions, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is of particular interest in isolating these signals given its suggested role in the affective ("unpleasant") component of pain. Here, we explored the utility of the ACC toward preclinical pain research using head-mounted miniaturized microscopes to record calcium transients in freely moving male mice expressing genetically encoded calcium indicator 6f (GCaMP6f) under the Thy1 promoter. We verified the expression of GCaMP6f in excitatory neurons and found no intrinsic behavioral differences in this model. Using a multimodal stimulation paradigm across naive, pain, and analgesic conditions, we found that while ACC population activity roughly scaled with stimulus intensity, single-cell representations were highly flexible. We found only low-magnitude increases in population activity after complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and insufficient evidence for the existence of a robust nociceptive ensemble in the ACC. However, we found a temporal sharpening of response durations and generalized increases in pairwise neural correlations in the presence of the mechanistically distinct analgesics gabapentin or ibuprofen after (but not before) CFA-induced inflammatory pain. This increase was not explainable by changes in locomotion alone. Taken together, these results highlight challenges in isolating distinct pain signals among flexible representations in the ACC but suggest a neurophysiological hallmark of analgesia after pain that generalizes to at least two analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel T Kissinger
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Department of Neuroscience, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - Estefania O'neil
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Department of Neuroscience, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - Baolin Li
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Department of Neuroscience, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - Kirk W Johnson
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Department of Neuroscience, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - Jeffrey L Krajewski
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Department of Neuroscience, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
| | - Akihiko S Kato
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Department of Neuroscience, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285
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Utashiro N, MacLaren DAA, Liu YC, Yaqubi K, Wojak B, Monyer H. Long-range inhibition from prelimbic to cingulate areas of the medial prefrontal cortex enhances network activity and response execution. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5772. [PMID: 38982042 PMCID: PMC11233578 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50055-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
It is well established that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) exerts top-down control of many behaviors, but little is known regarding how cross-talk between distinct areas of the mPFC influences top-down signaling. We performed virus-mediated tracing and functional studies in male mice, homing in on GABAergic projections whose axons are located mainly in layer 1 and that connect two areas of the mPFC, namely the prelimbic area (PrL) with the cingulate area 1 and 2 (Cg1/2). We revealed the identity of the targeted neurons that comprise two distinct types of layer 1 GABAergic interneurons, namely single-bouquet cells (SBCs) and neurogliaform cells (NGFs), and propose that this connectivity links GABAergic projection neurons with cortical canonical circuits. In vitro electrophysiological and in vivo calcium imaging studies support the notion that the GABAergic projection neurons from the PrL to the Cg1/2 exert a crucial role in regulating the activity in the target area by disinhibiting layer 5 output neurons. Finally, we demonstrated that recruitment of these projections affects impulsivity and mechanical responsiveness, behaviors which are known to be modulated by Cg1/2 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nao Utashiro
- Department of Clinical Neurobiology at the Medical Faculty of the Heidelberg University and of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Duncan Archibald Allan MacLaren
- Department of Clinical Neurobiology at the Medical Faculty of the Heidelberg University and of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yu-Chao Liu
- Department of Clinical Neurobiology at the Medical Faculty of the Heidelberg University and of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kaneschka Yaqubi
- Department of Clinical Neurobiology at the Medical Faculty of the Heidelberg University and of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Birgit Wojak
- Department of Clinical Neurobiology at the Medical Faculty of the Heidelberg University and of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Hannah Monyer
- Department of Clinical Neurobiology at the Medical Faculty of the Heidelberg University and of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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Su Y, Verkhratsky A, Yi C. Targeting connexins: possible game changer in managing neuropathic pain? Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:642-659. [PMID: 38594094 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a chronic debilitating condition caused by nerve injury or a variety of diseases. At the core of neuropathic pain lies the aberrant neuronal excitability in the peripheral and/or central nervous system (PNS and CNS). Enhanced connexin expression and abnormal activation of connexin-assembled gap junctional channels are prominent in neuropathic pain along with reactive gliosis, contributing to neuronal hypersensitivity and hyperexcitability. In this review, we delve into the current understanding of how connexin expression and function contribute to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of neuropathic pain and argue for connexins as potential therapeutic targets for neuropathic pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixun Su
- Research Centre, Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Achucarro Center for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Bilbao, Spain; Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania; Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
| | - Chenju Yi
- Research Centre, Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Guangzhou, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Active substance screening and Translational Research, Shenzhen, China.
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Zhang B, Guo M, Dong T, Yang H, Zhang Q, Yang Q, Zhou X, Mao C, Zhang M. Disrupted Resting-State Functional Connectivity and Effective Connectivity of the Nucleus Accumbens in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Pain Res 2024; 17:2133-2146. [PMID: 38915479 PMCID: PMC11194467 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s455239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a recurring and intractable disease that is often accompanied by emotional and cognitive disorders such as depression and anxiety. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays an important role in mediating emotional and cognitive processes and analgesia. This study investigated the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and effective connectivity (EC) of NAc and its subregions in cLBP. Methods Thirty-four cLBP patients and 34 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Seed-based rsFC and Dynamic Causal Modelling (DCM) were used to examine the alteration of the rsFC and EC of the NAc. Results Our results showed that the cLBP group had increased rsFC of the bilateral NAc-left superior frontal cortex (SFC), orbital frontal cortex (OFC), left angular gyrus, the left NAc-bilateral middle temporal gyrus, as well as decreased rsFC of left NAc-left supramarginal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, left cerebellum, brainstem (medulla oblongata), and right insula pathways compared with the HC; the results of the subregions were largely consistent with the whole NAc. In addition, the rsFC of the left NAc-left SFC was negatively correlated with Hamilton's Depression Scale (HAMD) scores (r = -0.402, p = 0.018), and the rsFC of left NAc-OFC was positively correlated with present pain intensity scores (r = 0.406, p = 0.017) in the cLBP group. DCM showed that the cLBP group showed significantly increased EC from the left cerebellum to the right NAc (p = 0.012) as compared with HC. Conclusion Overall, our findings demonstrate aberrant rsFC and EC between NAc and regions that are associated with emotional regulation and cognitive processing in individuals with cLBP, underscoring the pivotal roles of emotion and cognition in cLBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Minmin Guo
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ting Dong
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huajuan Yang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiujuan Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Quanxin Yang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqian Zhou
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cuiping Mao
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, People’s Republic of China
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Wei X, Lai Y, Lan X, Tan Y, Zhang J, Liu J, Chen J, Wang C, Zhou X, Tang Y, Liu D, Zhang J. Uncovering brain functional connectivity disruption patterns of lung cancer-related pain. Brain Imaging Behav 2024; 18:576-587. [PMID: 38316730 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-023-00836-9] [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] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Pain is a pervasive symptom in lung cancer patients during the onset of the disease. This study aims to investigate the connectivity disruption patterns of the whole-brain functional network in lung cancer patients with cancer pain (CP+). We constructed individual whole-brain, region of interest (ROI)-level functional connectivity (FC) networks for 50 CP+ patients, 34 lung cancer patients without pain-related complaints (CP-), and 31 matched healthy controls (HC). Then, a ROI-based FC analysis was used to determine the disruptions of FC among the three groups. The relationships between aberrant FCs and clinical parameters were also characterized. The ROI-based FC analysis demonstrated that hypo-connectivity was present both in CP+ and CP- patients compared to HC, which were particularly clustered in the somatomotor and ventral attention, frontoparietal control, and default mode modules. Notably, compared to CP- patients, CP+ patients had hyper-connectivity in several brain regions mainly distributed in the somatomotor and visual modules, suggesting these abnormal FC patterns may be significant for cancer pain. Moreover, CP+ patients also showed increased intramodular and intermodular connectivity strength of the functional network, which could be replicated in cancer stage IV and lung adenocarcinoma. Finally, abnormal FCs within the prefrontal cortex and somatomotor cortex were positively correlated with pain intensity and pain duration, respectively. These findings suggested that lung cancer patients with cancer pain had disrupted connectivity in the intrinsic brain functional network, which may be the underlying neuroimaging mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Wei
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Hanyu Road No. 181, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Yong Lai
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Hanyu Road No. 181, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Xiaosong Lan
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Hanyu Road No. 181, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Yong Tan
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Hanyu Road No. 181, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Hanyu Road No. 181, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Jiang Liu
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Hanyu Road No. 181, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Jiao Chen
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Hanyu Road No. 181, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Chengfang Wang
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Hanyu Road No. 181, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Hanyu Road No. 181, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Yu Tang
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Hanyu Road No. 181, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Daihong Liu
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Hanyu Road No. 181, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China.
| | - Jiuquan Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Hanyu Road No. 181, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China.
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10
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Wang S, Gao S, Tang C, Occhipinti E, Li C, Wang S, Wang J, Zhao H, Hu G, Nathan A, Dahiya R, Occhipinti LG. Memristor-based adaptive neuromorphic perception in unstructured environments. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4671. [PMID: 38821961 PMCID: PMC11143376 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48908-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Efficient operation of control systems in robotics or autonomous driving targeting real-world navigation scenarios requires perception methods that allow them to understand and adapt to unstructured environments with good accuracy, adaptation, and generality, similar to humans. To address this need, we present a memristor-based differential neuromorphic computing, perceptual signal processing, and online adaptation method providing neuromorphic style adaptation to external sensory stimuli. The adaptation ability and generality of this method are confirmed in two application scenarios: object grasping and autonomous driving. In the former, a robot hand realizes safe and stable grasping through fast ( ~ 1 ms) adaptation based on the tactile object features with a single memristor. In the latter, decision-making information of 10 unstructured environments in autonomous driving is extracted with an accuracy of 94% with a 40×25 memristor array. By mimicking human low-level perception mechanisms, the electronic neuromorphic circuit-based method achieves real-time adaptation and high-level reactions to unstructured environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengbo Wang
- School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Gao
- School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.
| | - Chenyu Tang
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Edoardo Occhipinti
- UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Healthcare, Department of Computing, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Cong Li
- School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Shurui Wang
- School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Hubin Zhao
- HUB of Intelligent Neuro-engineering (HUBIN), CREATe, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL, HA7 4LP, Stanmore, UK
| | - Guohua Hu
- Department of Electronic Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N. T., Hong Kong S. A. R., China
| | - Arokia Nathan
- Darwin College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Ravinder Dahiya
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Group, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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11
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Arnold CA, Bagg MK, Harvey AR. The psychophysiology of music-based interventions and the experience of pain. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1361857. [PMID: 38800683 PMCID: PMC11122921 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1361857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
In modern times there is increasing acceptance that music-based interventions are useful aids in the clinical treatment of a range of neurological and psychiatric conditions, including helping to reduce the perception of pain. Indeed, the belief that music, whether listening or performing, can alter human pain experiences has a long history, dating back to the ancient Greeks, and its potential healing properties have long been appreciated by indigenous cultures around the world. The subjective experience of acute or chronic pain is complex, influenced by many intersecting physiological and psychological factors, and it is therefore to be expected that the impact of music therapy on the pain experience may vary from one situation to another, and from one person to another. Where pain persists and becomes chronic, aberrant central processing is a key feature associated with the ongoing pain experience. Nonetheless, beneficial effects of exposure to music on pain relief have been reported across a wide range of acute and chronic conditions, and it has been shown to be effective in neonates, children and adults. In this comprehensive review we examine the various neurochemical, physiological and psychological factors that underpin the impact of music on the pain experience, factors that potentially operate at many levels - the periphery, spinal cord, brainstem, limbic system and multiple areas of cerebral cortex. We discuss the extent to which these factors, individually or in combination, influence how music affects both the quality and intensity of pain, noting that there remains controversy about the respective roles that diverse central and peripheral processes play in this experience. Better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie music's impact on pain perception together with insights into central processing of pain should aid in developing more effective synergistic approaches when music therapy is combined with clinical treatments. The ubiquitous nature of music also facilitates application from the therapeutic environment into daily life, for ongoing individual and social benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn A. Arnold
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Caulfield Pain Management and Research Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Matthew K. Bagg
- School of Health Sciences, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, WA, Australia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
| | - Alan R. Harvey
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- School of Human Sciences and Conservatorium of Music, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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12
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Guo F, Lin SD, Du Y, Hu TT, Wang Y, Chen Z, Zhang SH. Secondary somatosensory cortex glutamatergic innervation of the thalamus facilitates pain. Pain 2024; 165:1142-1153. [PMID: 38112733 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Although the secondary somatosensory cortex (SII) is known to be involved in pain perception, its role in pain modulation and neuropathic pain is yet unknown. In this study, we found that glutamatergic neurons in deep layers of the SII (SII Glu ) responded to bilateral sensory inputs by changing their firing with most being inhibited by contralateral noxious stimulation. Optical inhibition and activation of unilateral SII Glu reduced and enhanced bilateral nociceptive sensitivity, respectively, without affecting mood status. Tracing experiments revealed that SII Glu sent dense monosynaptic projections to the posterolateral nucleus (VPL) and the posterior nucleus (Po) of the thalamus. Optical inhibition and activation of projection terminals of SII Glu in the unilateral VPL and Po inhibited and facilitated pain on the contralateral side, respectively. After partial sciatic nerve ligation, SII Glu became hyperactive as evidenced by higher frequency of spontaneous firing, but the response patterns to peripheral stimulation remained. Optical inhibition of SII Glu alleviated not only bilateral mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia but also the negative affect associated with spontaneous pain. Inhibition of SII Glu terminals in the VPL and Po also relieved neuropathic pain. This study revealed that SII Glu and the circuits to the VPL and Po constitute a part of the endogenous pain modulatory network. These corticothalamic circuits became hyperactive after peripheral nerve injury, hence contributes to neuropathic pain. These results justify proper inhibition of SII Glu and associated neural circuits as a potential clinical strategy for neuropathic pain treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Guo
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Anesthesiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shi-Da Lin
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Anesthesiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu Du
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Anesthesiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ting-Ting Hu
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Anesthesiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shi-Hong Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Anesthesiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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13
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James JG, McCall NM, Hsu AI, Oswell CS, Salimando GJ, Mahmood M, Wooldridge LM, Wachira M, Jo A, Sandoval Ortega RA, Wojick JA, Beattie K, Farinas SA, Chehimi SN, Rodrigues A, Ejoh LSL, Kimmey BA, Lo E, Azouz G, Vasquez JJ, Banghart MR, Creasy KT, Beier KT, Ramakrishnan C, Crist RC, Reiner BC, Deisseroth K, Yttri EA, Corder G. Mimicking opioid analgesia in cortical pain circuits. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.26.591113. [PMID: 38746090 PMCID: PMC11092437 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.26.591113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The anterior cingulate cortex plays a pivotal role in the cognitive and affective aspects of pain perception. Both endogenous and exogenous opioid signaling within the cingulate mitigate cortical nociception, reducing pain unpleasantness. However, the specific functional and molecular identities of cells mediating opioid analgesia in the cingulate remain elusive. Given the complexity of pain as a sensory and emotional experience, and the richness of ethological pain-related behaviors, we developed a standardized, deep-learning platform for deconstructing the behavior dynamics associated with the affective component of pain in mice-LUPE (Light aUtomated Pain Evaluator). LUPE removes human bias in behavior quantification and accelerated analysis from weeks to hours, which we leveraged to discover that morphine altered attentional and motivational pain behaviors akin to affective analgesia in humans. Through activity-dependent genetics and single-nuclei RNA sequencing, we identified specific ensembles of nociceptive cingulate neuron-types expressing mu-opioid receptors. Tuning receptor expression in these cells bidirectionally modulated morphine analgesia. Moreover, we employed a synthetic opioid receptor promoter-driven approach for cell-type specific optical and chemical genetic viral therapies to mimic morphine's pain-relieving effects in the cingulate, without reinforcement. This approach offers a novel strategy for precision pain management by targeting a key nociceptive cortical circuit with on-demand, non-addictive, and effective analgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin G. James
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nora M. McCall
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alex I. Hsu
- Dept. of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, and Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Corinna S. Oswell
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gregory J. Salimando
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Malaika Mahmood
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lisa M. Wooldridge
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Meghan Wachira
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Adrienne Jo
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Jessica A. Wojick
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Katherine Beattie
- Dept. of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sofia A. Farinas
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Samar N. Chehimi
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amrith Rodrigues
- Dept. of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lind-say L. Ejoh
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Blake A. Kimmey
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emily Lo
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ghalia Azouz
- Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jose J. Vasquez
- Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Matthew R. Banghart
- Dept. of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kate Townsend Creasy
- Dept. of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, and Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kevin T. Beier
- Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | - Richard C. Crist
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Benjamin C. Reiner
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Karl Deisseroth
- CNC Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Dept. of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Eric A. Yttri
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Gregory Corder
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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14
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Ye Q, Li J, Ren WJ, Zhang Y, Wang T, Rubini P, Yin HY, Illes P, Tang Y. Astrocyte activation in hindlimb somatosensory cortex contributes to electroacupuncture analgesia in acid-induced pain. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1348038. [PMID: 38633538 PMCID: PMC11021577 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1348038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Several studies have confirmed the direct relationship between extracellular acidification and the occurrence of pain. As an effective pain management approach, the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment of acidification-induced pain is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to assess the analgesic effect of EA in this type of pain and to explore the underlying mechanism(s). Methods We used plantar injection of the acidified phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; pH 6.0) to trigger thermal hyperalgesia in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats aged 6-8 weeks. The value of thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) was quantified after applying EA stimulation to the ST36 acupoint and/or chemogenetic control of astrocytes in the hindlimb somatosensory cortex. Results Both EA and chemogenetic astrocyte activation suppressed the acid-induced thermal hyperalgesia in the rat paw, whereas inhibition of astrocyte activation did not influence the hyperalgesia. At the same time, EA-induced analgesia was blocked by chemogenetic inhibition of astrocytes. Conclusion The present results suggest that EA-activated astrocytes in the hindlimb somatosensory cortex exert an analgesic effect on acid-induced pain, although these astrocytes might only moderately regulate acid-induced pain in the absence of EA. Our results imply a novel mode of action of astrocytes involved in EA analgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Ye
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling, School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Li
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Wen-Jing Ren
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling, School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling, School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Patrizia Rubini
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling, School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Hai-Yan Yin
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling, School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Peter Illes
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling, School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Rudolf Boehm Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Yong Tang
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling, School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Health and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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15
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Koga K, Kobayashi K, Tsuda M, Pickering AE, Furue H. Anterior cingulate cross-hemispheric inhibition via the claustrum resolves painful sensory conflict. Commun Biol 2024; 7:330. [PMID: 38491200 PMCID: PMC10943010 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06008-9] [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: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) responds to noxious and innocuous sensory inputs, and integrates them to coordinate appropriate behavioral reactions. However, the role of the projections of ACC neurons to subcortical areas and their influence on sensory processing are not fully investigated. Here, we identified that ACC neurons projecting to the contralateral claustrum (ACC→contraCLA) preferentially respond to contralateral mechanical sensory stimulation. These sensory responses were enhanced during attending behavior. Optogenetic activation of ACC→contraCLA neurons silenced pyramidal neurons in the contralateral ACC by recruiting local circuit fast-spiking interneuron activation via an excitatory relay in the CLA. This circuit activation suppressed withdrawal behavior to mechanical stimuli ipsilateral to the ACC→contraCLA neurons. Chemogenetic silencing showed that the cross-hemispheric circuit has an important role in the suppression of contralateral nociceptive behavior during sensory-driven attending behavior. Our findings identify a cross-hemispheric cortical-subcortical-cortical arc allowing the brain to give attentional priority to competing innocuous and noxious inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Koga
- Department of Neurophysiology, Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya, Japan.
| | - Kenta Kobayashi
- Section of Viral Vector Development, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Makoto Tsuda
- Department of Molecular and System Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Anthony E Pickering
- Anesthesia, Pain and Critical Care Research, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Hidemasa Furue
- Department of Neurophysiology, Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya, Japan.
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16
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Wager TD, Zorina-Lichtenwalter K, Friedman NP. A New Look at Gray Matter Decreases in Chronic Pain. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:387-388. [PMID: 38325916 PMCID: PMC10882984 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Tor D Wager
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
| | | | - Naomi P Friedman
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
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17
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Wei HR, Tang L, Yang XL, Chen CM, Li LX, Mao Y, Wang D, Kang F, Qun S, Zhang Z, Cao P, Jin Y. A microglial activation cascade across cortical regions underlies secondary mechanical hypersensitivity to amputation. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113804. [PMID: 38368612 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Neural mechanisms underlying amputation-related secondary pain are unclear. Using in vivo two-photon imaging, three-dimensional reconstruction, and fiber photometry recording, we show that a microglial activation cascade from the primary somatosensory cortex of forelimb (S1FL) to the primary somatosensory cortex of hindlimb (S1HL) mediates the disinhibition and subsequent hyperexcitation of glutamatergic neurons in the S1HL (S1HLGlu), which then drives secondary mechanical hypersensitivity development in ipsilateral hindpaws of mice with forepaw amputation. Forepaw amputation induces rapid S1FL microglial activation that further activates S1HL microglia via the CCL2-CCR2 signaling pathway. Increased engulfment of GABAergic presynapses by activated microglia stimulates S1HLGlu neuronal activity, ultimately leading to secondary mechanical hypersensitivity of hindpaws. It is widely believed direct neuronal projection drives interactions between distinct brain regions to prime specific behaviors. Our study reveals microglial interactions spanning different subregions of the somatosensory cortex to drive a maladaptive neuronal response underlying secondary mechanical hypersensitivity at non-injured sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Rui Wei
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Lan Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Xin-Lu Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China
| | - Chang-Mao Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Le-Xian Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yu Mao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Di Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Fang Kang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Sen Qun
- Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine, Institute of Health and Medicine, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
| | - Peng Cao
- Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
| | - Yan Jin
- Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
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18
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Chen HH, Mohsin M, Ge JY, Feng YT, Wang JG, Ou YS, Jiang ZJ, Hu BY, Liu XJ. Optogenetic Activation of Peripheral Somatosensory Neurons in Transgenic Mice as a Neuropathic Pain Model for Assessing the Therapeutic Efficacy of Analgesics. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:236-248. [PMID: 38230281 PMCID: PMC10789130 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Optogenetics is a novel biotechnology widely used to precisely manipulate a specific peripheral sensory neuron or neural circuit. However, the use of optogenetics to assess the therapeutic efficacy of analgesics is elusive. In this study, we generated a transgenic mouse stain in which all primary somatosensory neurons can be optogenetically activated to mimic neuronal hyperactivation in the neuropathic pain state for the assessment of analgesic effects of drugs. A transgenic mouse was generated using the advillin-Cre line mated with the Ai32 strain, in which channelrhodopsin-2 fused to enhanced yellow fluorescence protein (ChR2-EYFP) was conditionally expressed in all types of primary somatosensory neurons (advillincre/ChR2+/+). Immunofluorescence and transdermal photostimulation on the hindpaws were used to verify the transgenic mice. Optical stimulation to evoke pain-like paw withdrawal latency was used to assess the analgesic effects of a series of drugs. Injury- and pain-related molecular biomarkers were investigated with immunohistofluorescence. We found that the expression of ChR2-EYFP was observed in many primary afferents of paw skin and sciatic nerves and in primary sensory neurons and laminae I and II of the spinal dorsal horns in advillincre/ChR2+/+ mice. Transdermal blue light stimulation of the transgenic mouse hindpaw evoked nocifensive paw withdrawal behavior. Treatment with gabapentin, some channel blockers, and local anesthetics, but not opioids or COX-1/2 inhibitors, prolonged the paw withdrawal latency in the transgenic mice. The analgesic effect of gabapentin was also verified by the decreased expression of injury- and pain-related molecular biomarkers. These optogenetic mice provide a promising model for assessing the therapeutic efficacy of analgesics in neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Hao Chen
- School
of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province 226001, China
- Pain
and Related Diseases Research Laboratory, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province 515041, China
| | - Muhammad Mohsin
- Pain
and Related Diseases Research Laboratory, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province 515041, China
| | - Jia-Yi Ge
- School
of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province 226001, China
| | - Yu-Ting Feng
- School
of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province 226001, China
| | - Jing-Ge Wang
- School
of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province 226001, China
| | - Yu-Sen Ou
- Pain
and Related Diseases Research Laboratory, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province 515041, China
| | - Zuo-Jie Jiang
- Pain
and Related Diseases Research Laboratory, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province 515041, China
| | - Bo-Ya Hu
- Pain
and Related Diseases Research Laboratory, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province 515041, China
| | - Xing-Jun Liu
- School
of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province 226001, China
- Pain
and Related Diseases Research Laboratory, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province 515041, China
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19
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Widge AS. Closing the loop in psychiatric deep brain stimulation: physiology, psychometrics, and plasticity. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:138-149. [PMID: 37415081 PMCID: PMC10700701 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01643-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an invasive approach to precise modulation of psychiatrically relevant circuits. Although it has impressive results in open-label psychiatric trials, DBS has also struggled to scale to and pass through multi-center randomized trials. This contrasts with Parkinson disease, where DBS is an established therapy treating thousands of patients annually. The core difference between these clinical applications is the difficulty of proving target engagement, and of leveraging the wide range of possible settings (parameters) that can be programmed in a given patient's DBS. In Parkinson's, patients' symptoms change rapidly and visibly when the stimulator is tuned to the correct parameters. In psychiatry, those same changes take days to weeks, limiting a clinician's ability to explore parameter space and identify patient-specific optimal settings. I review new approaches to psychiatric target engagement, with an emphasis on major depressive disorder (MDD). Specifically, I argue that better engagement may come by focusing on the root causes of psychiatric illness: dysfunction in specific, measurable cognitive functions and in the connectivity and synchrony of distributed brain circuits. I overview recent progress in both those domains, and how it may relate to other technologies discussed in companion articles in this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alik S Widge
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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20
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Bhattacherjee A, Zhang C, Watson BR, Djekidel MN, Moffitt JR, Zhang Y. Spatial transcriptomics reveals the distinct organization of mouse prefrontal cortex and neuronal subtypes regulating chronic pain. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:1880-1893. [PMID: 37845544 PMCID: PMC10620082 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01455-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a complex brain region that regulates diverse functions ranging from cognition, emotion and executive action to even pain processing. To decode the cellular and circuit organization of such diverse functions, we employed spatially resolved single-cell transcriptome profiling of the adult mouse PFC. Results revealed that PFC has distinct cell-type composition and gene-expression patterns relative to neighboring cortical areas-with neuronal excitability-regulating genes differently expressed. These cellular and molecular features are further segregated within PFC subregions, alluding to the subregion-specificity of several PFC functions. PFC projects to major subcortical targets through combinations of neuronal subtypes, which emerge in a target-intrinsic fashion. Finally, based on these features, we identified distinct cell types and circuits in PFC underlying chronic pain, an escalating healthcare challenge with limited molecular understanding. Collectively, this comprehensive map will facilitate decoding of discrete molecular, cellular and circuit mechanisms underlying specific PFC functions in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aritra Bhattacherjee
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chao Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brianna R Watson
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mohamed Nadhir Djekidel
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Moffitt
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Yi Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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21
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Lançon K, Séguéla P. Dysregulated neuromodulation in the anterior cingulate cortex in chronic pain. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1289218. [PMID: 37954846 PMCID: PMC10634228 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1289218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is a significant global socioeconomic burden with limited long-term treatment options. The intractable nature of chronic pain stems from two primary factors: the multifaceted nature of pain itself and an insufficient understanding of the diverse physiological mechanisms that underlie its initiation and maintenance, in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. The development of novel non-opioidergic analgesic approaches is contingent on our ability to normalize the dysregulated nociceptive pathways involved in pathological pain processing. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) stands out due to its involvement in top-down modulation of pain perception, its abnormal activity in chronic pain conditions, and its contribution to cognitive functions frequently impaired in chronic pain states. Here, we review the roles of the monoamines dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), and other neuromodulators in controlling the activity of the ACC and how chronic pain alters their signaling in ACC circuits to promote pathological hyperexcitability. Additionally, we discuss the potential of targeting these monoaminergic pathways as a therapeutic strategy for treating the cognitive and affective symptoms associated with chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Philippe Séguéla
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, Montréal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
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22
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Caston RM, Smith EH, Davis TS, Singh H, Rahimpour S, Rolston JD. Characterization of spatiotemporal dynamics of binary and graded tonic pain in humans using intracranial recordings. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292808. [PMID: 37844101 PMCID: PMC10578592 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pain is a complex experience involving sensory, emotional, and cognitive aspects, and multiple networks manage its processing in the brain. Examining how pain transforms into a behavioral response can shed light on the networks' relationships and facilitate interventions to treat chronic pain. However, studies using high spatial and temporal resolution methods to investigate the neural encoding of pain and its psychophysical correlates have been limited. We recorded from intracranial stereo-EEG (sEEG) electrodes implanted in sixteen different brain regions of twenty patients who underwent psychophysical pain testing consisting of a tonic thermal stimulus to the hand. Broadband high-frequency local field potential amplitude (HFA; 70-150 Hz) was isolated to investigate the relationship between the ongoing neural activity and the resulting psychophysical pain evaluations. Two different generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLME) were employed to assess the neural representations underlying binary and graded pain psychophysics. The first model examined the relationship between HFA and whether the patient responded "yes" or "no" to whether the trial was painful. The second model investigated the relationship between HFA and how painful the stimulus was rated on a visual analog scale. GLMEs revealed that HFA in the inferior temporal gyrus (ITG), superior frontal gyrus (SFG), and superior temporal gyrus (STG) predicted painful responses at stimulus onset. An increase in HFA in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), SFG, and striatum predicted pain responses at stimulus offset. Numerous regions, including the anterior cingulate cortex, hippocampus, IFG, MTG, OFC, and striatum, predicted the pain rating at stimulus onset. However, only the amygdala and fusiform gyrus predicted increased pain ratings at stimulus offset. We characterized the spatiotemporal representations of binary and graded painful responses during tonic pain stimuli. Our study provides evidence from intracranial recordings that the neural encoding of psychophysical pain changes over time during a tonic thermal stimulus, with different brain regions being predictive of pain at the beginning and end of the stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose M. Caston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Elliot H. Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Tyler S. Davis
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Hargunbir Singh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Shervin Rahimpour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - John D. Rolston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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23
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Li J, Wang Y, Yang R, Ma W, Yan J, Li Y, Chen G, Pan J. Pain in Huntington's disease and its potential mechanisms. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1190563. [PMID: 37484692 PMCID: PMC10357841 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1190563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Pain is common and frequent in many neurodegenerative diseases, although it has not received much attention. In Huntington's disease (HD), pain is often ignored and under-researched because attention is more focused on motor and cognitive decline than psychiatric symptoms. In HD progression, pain symptoms are complex and involved in multiple etiologies, particularly mental issues such as apathy, anxiety and irritability. Because of psychiatric issues, HD patients rarely complain of pain, although their bodies show severe pain symptoms, ultimately resulting in insufficient awareness and lack of research. In HD, few studies have focused on pain and pain-related features. A detailed and systemic pain history is crucial to assess and explore pain pathophysiology in HD. This review provides an overview concentrating on pain-related factors in HD, including neuropathology, frequency, features, affecting factors and mechanisms. More attention and studies are still needed in this interesting field in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajie Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Riyun Yang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Wenjun Ma
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - JunGuo Yan
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Center for Basic Medical Research, Medical School of Nantong University, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingying Pan
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
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24
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Lee SE, Shin H, Kim G, Moon H, Hur JW. Decreased gray matter volume in regions associated with affective pain processing in unmedicated individuals with nonsuicidal self-injury. Psychiatry Res 2023; 326:115314. [PMID: 37406398 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been consistently associated with a reduced aversion to physical pain. Yet, little research has been done to investigate the brain structures related to pain in individuals with NSSI. This study examined gray matter volume patterns of pain processing regions in participants engaging in NSSI (n = 63) and age-, sex-, and handedness-matched healthy controls (n = 63). Voxel-based morphometry was performed to explore gray matter volume in regions of interest (ROIs) and partial correlation analyses were conducted to identify their associations with the frequency, versatility, duration, functions, and pain intensity of self-injury. As a result, significant volume decreases were found in the right anterior insula, bilateral secondary somatosensory cortex (SII), and left inferior frontal gyrus. Moreover, individuals with smaller anterior insula and SII volume showed a higher likelihood of endorsing affect-regulation and sensation-seeking functions of NSSI, as well as engaging in self-injury with a greater perceived intensity of pain. Our results provide the first empirical evidence that individuals with NSSI may exhibit distinct characteristics in brain regions associated with the affective component of pain processing. These neurobiological changes may be associated with their maladaptive response to noxious and painful NSSI experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo-Eun Lee
- School of Psychology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyemin Shin
- School of Psychology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Gyumyoung Kim
- School of Psychology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyeri Moon
- School of Psychology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ji-Won Hur
- School of Psychology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seoul, South Korea.
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25
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Taylor PC. Pain in the joints and beyond; the challenge of rheumatoid arthritis. THE LANCET. RHEUMATOLOGY 2023; 5:e351-e360. [PMID: 38251602 DOI: 10.1016/s2665-9913(23)00094-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Pain is a common and often debilitating symptom for people living with rheumatoid arthritis. Although pain is a generic feature of inflammation and often improves with successful treatment that targets inflammatory pathways, pain experience can persist. Emerging data suggest that the magnitude of pain relief might vary according to the therapeutic target of pharmacological intervention within the inflammatory cascade. Both inflammatory and non-inflammatory causes contribute to the pain experience, which depends on tissue origin, peripheral sensory mechanisms and their transmission, integration, and interpretation within the nervous system. Contemporary neuroimaging is transforming our understanding of these mechanisms and the role of sensory, emotional, and cognitive contributions to the experience of pain. This understanding paves the way for therapeutic approaches that recognise the existence of multiple, cognitively driven, supraspinal mechanisms for pain modulation and could complement pharmacological inflammation suppression. Such approaches include neuropsychological interventions that have the potential to modify human brain cortical structure and reduce suffering that is often associated with pain experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter C Taylor
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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26
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Ziegler K, Folkard R, Gonzalez AJ, Burghardt J, Antharvedi-Goda S, Martin-Cortecero J, Isaías-Camacho E, Kaushalya S, Tan LL, Kuner T, Acuna C, Kuner R, Mease RA, Groh A. Primary somatosensory cortex bidirectionally modulates sensory gain and nociceptive behavior in a layer-specific manner. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2999. [PMID: 37225702 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38798-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary somatosensory cortex (S1) is a hub for body sensation of both innocuous and noxious signals, yet its role in somatosensation versus pain is debated. Despite known contributions of S1 to sensory gain modulation, its causal involvement in subjective sensory experiences remains elusive. Here, in mouse S1, we reveal the involvement of cortical output neurons in layers 5 (L5) and 6 (L6) in the perception of innocuous and noxious somatosensory signals. We find that L6 activation can drive aversive hypersensitivity and spontaneous nocifensive behavior. Linking behavior to neuronal mechanisms, we find that L6 enhances thalamic somatosensory responses, and in parallel, strongly suppresses L5 neurons. Directly suppressing L5 reproduced the pronociceptive phenotype induced by L6 activation, suggesting an anti-nociceptive function for L5 output. Indeed, L5 activation reduced sensory sensitivity and reversed inflammatory allodynia. Together, these findings reveal a layer-specific and bidirectional role for S1 in modulating subjective sensory experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Ziegler
- Medical Biophysics, Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ross Folkard
- Medical Biophysics, Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Antonio J Gonzalez
- Medical Biophysics, Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jan Burghardt
- Medical Biophysics, Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sailaja Antharvedi-Goda
- Medical Biophysics, Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jesus Martin-Cortecero
- Medical Biophysics, Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Emilio Isaías-Camacho
- Medical Biophysics, Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sanjeev Kaushalya
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute for Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Linette Liqi Tan
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute for Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Kuner
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Claudio Acuna
- Chica and Heinz Schaller Research Group, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rohini Kuner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute for Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rebecca Audrey Mease
- Medical Biophysics, Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Alexander Groh
- Medical Biophysics, Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
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27
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Chen P, Wang C, Gong Q, Chai Y, Chen Y, Song C, Wu Y, Wang L. Alterations of endogenous pain-modulatory system of the cerebral cortex in the neuropathic pain. iScience 2023; 26:106668. [PMID: 37168579 PMCID: PMC10165265 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain (NeP) remains a significant clinical challenge owing to insufficient awareness of its pathological mechanisms. We elucidated the aberrant metabolism of the cerebral cortex in NeP induced by the chronic constriction injury (CCI) using metabolomics and proteomics analyses. After CCI surgery, the values of MWT and TWL markedly reduced and maintained at a low level. CCI induced the significant dysregulation of 57 metabolites and 31 proteins in the cerebral cortex. Integrative analyses showed that the differentially expressed metabolites and proteins were primarily involved in alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, GABAergic synapse, and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling. Targeted metabolomics and western blot analysis confirmed the alterations of some key metabolites and proteins in endogenous pain-modulatory system. In conclusion, our study revealed the alterations of endocannabinoids system and purinergic system in the CCI group, and provided a novel perspective on the roles of endogenous pain-modulatory system in the pathological mechanisms of NeP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Chen
- Basic Medical School, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, Guangdong, China
| | - Qian Gong
- First Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Yihui Chai
- Basic Medical School, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Yunzhi Chen
- Basic Medical School, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Cuiwen Song
- Basic Medical School, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Yuanhua Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Long Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan, China
- Corresponding author
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28
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Kim J, Namgung E, Lee S, Ha E, Hong H, Song Y, Lee H, Oh S, Lyoo IK, Yoon S, Jeong H. Disturbed insular functional connectivity and its clinical implication in patients with complex regional pain syndrome. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 38:103440. [PMID: 37224606 PMCID: PMC10220260 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is characterized by continued amplification of pain intensity. Given the pivotal roles of the insula in the perception and interpretation of pain, we examined insular functional connectivity and its associations with clinical characteristics in patients with CRPS. METHODS Twenty-one patients with CRPS and 49 healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The seed-to-seed functional connectivity analysis was performed for the bilateral insulae and cognitive control regions including the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) between the two groups. Correlations between altered functional connectivity and clinical characteristics were assessed in CRPS patients. RESULTS CRPS patients exhibited lower functional connectivity within the bilateral anterior insulae, between the insular and cognitive control regions (the bilateral anterior/posterior insulae-dACC; the right posterior insula-left DLPFC), as compared with healthy controls at false discovery rate-corrected p < 0.05. In CRPS patients, pain severity was associated negatively with the left-right anterior insular functional connectivity (r = -0.49, p = 0.03), yet positively with the left anterior insula-dACC functional connectivity (r = 0.51, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS CRPS patients showed lower functional connectivity both within the bilateral anterior insulae and between the insular and cognitive control regions. The current findings may suggest pivotal roles of the insula in dysfunctional pain processing of CRPS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsol Kim
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun Namgung
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Suji Lee
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eunji Ha
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Haejin Hong
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yumi Song
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyangwon Lee
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sohyun Oh
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - In Kyoon Lyoo
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sujung Yoon
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Hyeonseok Jeong
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
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Pan Q, Guo SS, Chen M, Su XY, Gao ZL, Wang Q, Xu TL, Liu MG, Hu J. Representation and control of pain and itch by distinct prefrontal neural ensembles. Neuron 2023:S0896-6273(23)00342-2. [PMID: 37224813 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Pain and itch are two closely related but essentially distinct sensations that elicit different behavioral responses. However, it remains mysterious how pain and itch information is encoded in the brain to produce differential perceptions. Here, we report that nociceptive and pruriceptive signals are separately represented and processed by distinct neural ensembles in the prelimbic (PL) subdivision of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in mice. Pain- and itch-responsive cortical neural ensembles were found to significantly differ in electrophysiological properties, input-output connectivity profiles, and activity patterns to nociceptive or pruriceptive stimuli. Moreover, these two groups of cortical neural ensembles oppositely modulate pain- or itch-related sensory and emotional behaviors through their preferential projections to specific downstream regions such as the mediodorsal thalamus (MD) and basolateral amygdala (BLA). These findings uncover separate representations of pain and itch by distinct prefrontal neural ensembles and provide a new framework for understanding somatosensory information processing in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Pan
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Su-Shan Guo
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Ming Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xin-Yu Su
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Zi-Long Gao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Qi Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Tian-Le Xu
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Songjiang Hospital and Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201600, China; Shanghai Research Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Shanghai 201210, China.
| | - Ming-Gang Liu
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
| | - Ji Hu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai 200030, China.
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30
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Cao P, Zhang M, Ni Z, Song XJ, Yang CL, Mao Y, Zhou W, Dong WY, Peng X, Zheng C, Zhang Z, Jin Y, Tao W. Green light induces antinociception via visual-somatosensory circuits. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112290. [PMID: 36947545 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Light has been shown to relieve pain, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we show that low-intensity (200 lux) green light treatment exerts antinociceptive effects through a neural circuit from the visual cortex projecting to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in mice. Specifically, viral tracing, in vivo two-photon calcium imaging, and fiber photometry recordings show that green light activated glutamatergic projections from the medial part of the secondary visual cortex (V2MGlu) to GABAergic neurons in the ACC, which drives inhibition of local glutamatergic neurons (V2MGlu→ACCGABA→Glu). Optogenetic or chemogenetic activation of the V2MGlu→ACCGABA→Glu circuit mimics green-light-induced antinociception in both neuropathic and inflammatory pain model mice. Artificial inhibition of ACC-projecting V2MGlu neurons abolishes the antinociception induced by green light. Taken together, our study shows the V2M-ACC circuit as a potential candidate mediating green-light-induced antinociceptive effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Cao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China; Department of Biophysics and Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease of Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Mingjun Zhang
- Department of Biophysics and Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease of Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Ziyun Ni
- Department of Biophysics and Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease of Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Xiang-Jie Song
- Department of Biophysics and Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease of Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Chen-Ling Yang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yu Mao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China; Department of Anesthesiology and Department of Pain Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, PR China
| | - Wenjie Zhou
- Department of Biophysics and Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease of Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Wan-Ying Dong
- Department of Biophysics and Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease of Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Xiaoqi Peng
- Department of Biophysics and Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease of Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Changjian Zheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China; Department of Biophysics and Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease of Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.
| | - Yan Jin
- Department of Biophysics and Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease of Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China; Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Wenjuan Tao
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; College & Hospital of Stomatology, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
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31
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Stegemann A, Liu S, Retana Romero OA, Oswald MJ, Han Y, Beretta CA, Gan Z, Tan LL, Wisden W, Gräff J, Kuner R. Prefrontal engrams of long-term fear memory perpetuate pain perception. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:820-829. [PMID: 37024573 PMCID: PMC10166861 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01291-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
A painful episode can lead to a life-long increase in an individual's experience of pain. Fearful anticipation of imminent pain could play a role in this phenomenon, but the neurobiological underpinnings are unclear because fear can both suppress and enhance pain. Here, we show in mice that long-term associative fear memory stored in neuronal engrams in the prefrontal cortex determines whether a painful episode shapes pain experience later in life. Furthermore, under conditions of inflammatory and neuropathic pain, prefrontal fear engrams expand to encompass neurons representing nociception and tactile sensation, leading to pronounced changes in prefrontal connectivity to fear-relevant brain areas. Conversely, silencing prefrontal fear engrams reverses chronically established hyperalgesia and allodynia. These results reveal that a discrete subset of prefrontal cortex neurons can account for the debilitating comorbidity of fear and chronic pain and show that attenuating the fear memory of pain can alleviate chronic pain itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Stegemann
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sheng Liu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Yechao Han
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Zheng Gan
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Linette Liqi Tan
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - William Wisden
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Johannes Gräff
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rohini Kuner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Zamfir M, Sharif B, Locke S, Ehrlich AT, Ochandarena NE, Scherrer G, Ribeiro-da-Silva A, Kieffer BL, Séguéla P. Distinct and sex-specific expression of mu opioid receptors in anterior cingulate and somatosensory S1 cortical areas. Pain 2023; 164:703-716. [PMID: 35973045 PMCID: PMC10026835 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) processes the affective component of pain, whereas the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) is involved in its sensory-discriminative component. Injection of morphine in the ACC has been reported to be analgesic, and endogenous opioids in this area are required for pain relief. Mu opioid receptors (MORs) are expressed in both ACC and S1; however, the identity of MOR-expressing cortical neurons remains unknown. Using the Oprm1-mCherry mouse line, we performed selective patch clamp recordings of MOR+ neurons, as well as immunohistochemistry with validated neuronal markers, to determine the identity and laminar distribution of MOR+ neurons in ACC and S1. We found that the electrophysiological signatures of MOR+ neurons differ significantly between these 2 areas, with interneuron-like firing patterns more frequent in ACC. While MOR+ somatostatin interneurons are more prominent in ACC, MOR+ excitatory neurons and MOR+ parvalbumin interneurons are more prominent in S1. Our results suggest a differential contribution of MOR-mediated modulation to ACC and S1 outputs. We also found that females had a greater density of MOR+ neurons compared with males in both areas. In summary, we conclude that MOR-dependent opioidergic signaling in the cortex displays sexual dimorphisms and likely evolved to meet the distinct function of pain-processing circuits in limbic and sensory cortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Zamfir
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Behrang Sharif
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Samantha Locke
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Aliza T. Ehrlich
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Douglas Hospital Research Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nicole E. Ochandarena
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Grégory Scherrer
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- UNC Neuroscience Center The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Alfredo Ribeiro-da-Silva
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Brigitte L. Kieffer
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Douglas Hospital Research Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Philippe Séguéla
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Caston RM, Smith EH, Davis TS, Singh H, Rahimpour S, Rolston JD. Psychophysical pain encoding in the cingulate cortex predicts responsiveness of electrical stimulation. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.03.18.23287266. [PMID: 36993429 PMCID: PMC10055607 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.18.23287266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Background The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays an important role in the cognitive and emotional processing of pain. Prior studies have used deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat chronic pain, but results have been inconsistent. This may be due to network adaptation over time and variable causes of chronic pain. Identifying patient-specific pain network features may be necessary to determine patient candidacy for DBS. Hypothesis Cingulate stimulation would increase patients' hot pain thresholds if non-stimulation 70-150 Hz activity encoded psychophysical pain responses. Methods In this study, four patients who underwent intracranial monitoring for epilepsy monitoring participated in a pain task. They placed their hand on a device capable of eliciting thermal pain for five seconds and rated their pain. We used these results to determine the individual's thermal pain threshold with and without electrical stimulation. Two different types of generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLME) were employed to assess the neural representations underlying binary and graded pain psychophysics. Results The pain threshold for each patient was determined from the psychometric probability density function. Two patients had a higher pain threshold with stimulation than without, while the other two patients had no difference. We also evaluated the relationship between neural activity and pain responses. We found that patients who responded to stimulation had specific time windows where high-frequency activity was associated with increased pain ratings. Conclusion Stimulation of cingulate regions with increased pain-related neural activity was more effective at modulating pain perception than stimulating non-responsive areas. Personalized evaluation of neural activity biomarkers could help identify the best target for stimulation and predict its effectiveness in future studies evaluating DBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose M Caston
- University of Utah Department of Biomedical Engineering
- University of Utah Department of Neurosurgery
| | - Elliot H Smith
- University of Utah Department of Neurosurgery
- University of Utah Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience
| | | | - Hargunbir Singh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Shervin Rahimpour
- University of Utah Department of Biomedical Engineering
- University of Utah Department of Neurosurgery
| | - John D Rolston
- University of Utah Department of Biomedical Engineering
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
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34
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Caston RM, Smith EH, Davis TS, Singh H, Rahimpour S, Rolston JD. Characterization of spatiotemporal dynamics of binary and graded tonic pain in humans using intracranial recordings. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.08.531576. [PMID: 36945412 PMCID: PMC10028876 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.08.531576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Pain is a complex experience involving sensory, emotional, and cognitive aspects, and multiple networks manage its processing in the brain. Examining how pain transforms into a behavioral response can shed light on the networks' relationships and facilitate interventions to treat chronic pain. However, studies using high spatial and temporal resolution methods to investigate the neural encoding of pain and its psychophysical correlates have been limited. We recorded from intracranial stereo-EEG (sEEG) electrodes implanted in sixteen different brain regions of twenty patients who underwent psychophysical pain testing consisting of a tonic thermal stimulus to the hand. Broadband high-frequency local field potential amplitude (HFA; 70-150 Hz) was isolated to investigate the relationship between the ongoing neural activity and the resulting psychophysical pain evaluations. Two different generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLME) were employed to assess the neural representations underlying binary and graded pain psychophysics. The first model examined the relationship between HFA and whether the patient responded "yes" or "no" to whether the trial was painful. The second model investigated the relationship between HFA and how painful the stimulus was rated on a visual analog scale. GLMEs revealed that HFA in the inferior temporal gyrus (ITG), superior frontal gyrus (SFG), and superior temporal gyrus (STG) predicted painful responses at stimulus onset. An increase in HFA in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), SFG, and striatum predicted pain responses at stimulus offset. Numerous regions including the anterior cingulate cortex, hippocampus, IFG, MTG, OFC, and striatum, predicted the pain rating at stimulus onset. However, only the amygdala and fusiform gyrus predicted increased pain ratings at stimulus offset. We characterized the spatiotemporal representations of binary and graded painful responses during tonic pain stimuli. Our study provides evidence from intracranial recordings that the neural encoding of psychophysical pain changes over time during a tonic thermal stimulus, with different brain regions being predictive of pain at the beginning and end of the stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose M Caston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, 84112
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, 84112
| | - Elliot H Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, 84112
- Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, 84112
| | - Tyler S Davis
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, 84112
| | - Hargunbir Singh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 02115
| | - Shervin Rahimpour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, 84112
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, 84112
| | - John D Rolston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, 84112
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 02115
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35
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Chen ZS. Hierarchical predictive coding in distributed pain circuits. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1073537. [PMID: 36937818 PMCID: PMC10020379 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1073537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Predictive coding is a computational theory on describing how the brain perceives and acts, which has been widely adopted in sensory processing and motor control. Nociceptive and pain processing involves a large and distributed network of circuits. However, it is still unknown whether this distributed network is completely decentralized or requires networkwide coordination. Multiple lines of evidence from human and animal studies have suggested that the cingulate cortex and insula cortex (cingulate-insula network) are two major hubs in mediating information from sensory afferents and spinothalamic inputs, whereas subregions of cingulate and insula cortices have distinct projections and functional roles. In this mini-review, we propose an updated hierarchical predictive coding framework for pain perception and discuss its related computational, algorithmic, and implementation issues. We suggest active inference as a generalized predictive coding algorithm, and hierarchically organized traveling waves of independent neural oscillations as a plausible brain mechanism to integrate bottom-up and top-down information across distributed pain circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Sage Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY, United States
- Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
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36
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Robayo LE, Govind V, Salan T, Cherup NP, Sheriff S, Maudsley AA, Widerström-Noga E. Neurometabolite alterations in traumatic brain injury and associations with chronic pain. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1125128. [PMID: 36908781 PMCID: PMC9997848 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1125128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to a variety of comorbidities, including chronic pain. Although brain tissue metabolite alterations have been extensively examined in several chronic pain populations, it has received less attention in people with TBI. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to compare brain tissue metabolite levels in people with TBI and chronic pain (n = 16), TBI without chronic pain (n = 17), and pain-free healthy controls (n = 31). The metabolite data were obtained from participants using whole-brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI) at 3 Tesla. The metabolite data included N-acetylaspartate, myo-inositol, total choline, glutamate plus glutamine, and total creatine. Associations between N-acetylaspartate levels and pain severity, neuropathic pain symptom severity, and psychological variables, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and post-concussive symptoms, were also explored. Our results demonstrate N-acetylaspartate, myo-inositol, total choline, and total creatine alterations in pain-related brain regions such as the frontal region, cingulum, postcentral gyrus, and thalamus in individuals with TBI with and without chronic pain. Additionally, NAA levels in the left and right frontal lobe regions were positively correlated with post-concussive symptoms; and NAA levels within the left frontal region were also positively correlated with neuropathic pain symptom severity, depression, and PTSD symptoms in the TBI with chronic pain group. These results suggest that neuronal integrity or density in the prefrontal cortex, a critical region for nociception and pain modulation, is associated with the severity of neuropathic pain symptoms and psychological comorbidities following TBI. Our data suggest that a combination of neuronal loss or dysfunction and maladaptive neuroplasticity may contribute to the development of persistent pain following TBI, although no causal relationship can be determined based on these data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda E. Robayo
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Varan Govind
- Department of Radiology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Teddy Salan
- Department of Radiology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Nicholas P. Cherup
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Sulaiman Sheriff
- Department of Radiology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | | | - Eva Widerström-Noga
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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Abstract
Pain is driven by sensation and emotion, and in turn, it motivates decisions and actions. To fully appreciate the multidimensional nature of pain, we formulate the study of pain within a closed-loop framework of sensory-motor prediction. In this closed-loop cycle, prediction plays an important role, as the interaction between prediction and actual sensory experience shapes pain perception and subsequently, action. In this Perspective, we describe the roles of two prominent computational theories-Bayesian inference and reinforcement learning-in modeling adaptive pain behaviors. We show that prediction serves as a common theme between these two theories, and that each of these theories can explain unique aspects of the pain perception-action cycle. We discuss how these computational theories and models can improve our mechanistic understandings of pain-centered processes such as anticipation, attention, placebo hypoalgesia, and pain chronification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Sage Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
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Gan Z, Gangadharan V, Liu S, Körber C, Tan LL, Li H, Oswald MJ, Kang J, Martin-Cortecero J, Männich D, Groh A, Kuner T, Wieland S, Kuner R. Layer-specific pain relief pathways originating from primary motor cortex. Science 2022; 378:1336-1343. [PMID: 36548429 DOI: 10.1126/science.add4391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The primary motor cortex (M1) is involved in the control of voluntary movements and is extensively mapped in this capacity. Although the M1 is implicated in modulation of pain, the underlying circuitry and causal underpinnings remain elusive. We unexpectedly unraveled a connection from the M1 to the nucleus accumbens reward circuitry through a M1 layer 6-mediodorsal thalamus pathway, which specifically suppresses negative emotional valence and associated coping behaviors in neuropathic pain. By contrast, layer 5 M1 neurons connect with specific cell populations in zona incerta and periaqueductal gray to suppress sensory hypersensitivity without altering pain affect. Thus, the M1 employs distinct, layer-specific pathways to attune sensory and aversive-emotional components of neuropathic pain, which can be exploited for purposes of pain relief.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Gan
- Pharmacology Institute, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vijayan Gangadharan
- Pharmacology Institute, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sheng Liu
- Pharmacology Institute, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Körber
- Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Linette Liqi Tan
- Pharmacology Institute, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Han Li
- Pharmacology Institute, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manfred Josef Oswald
- Pharmacology Institute, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Juhyun Kang
- Pharmacology Institute, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jesus Martin-Cortecero
- Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Deepitha Männich
- Pharmacology Institute, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Groh
- Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Kuner
- Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Wieland
- Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty Heidelberg and University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rohini Kuner
- Pharmacology Institute, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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Natsubori A, Miyazawa M, Kojima T, Honda M. Region-specific involvement of ventral striatal dopamine D2 receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons in nociception. Neurosci Res 2022; 191:48-56. [PMID: 36549387 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2022.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The ventrolateral striatum (VLS), a subregion of the ventral striatum (VS), possesses distinct neuronal Ca2+ activities and functions in reward-oriented behavior, compared with the ventromedial striatum (VMS) based on the anatomical feature. We hypothesized that the VLS exhibits unique neuronal activity and function in nociceptive processing, a part of aversive processing. Using fiber photometry to monitor the neuronal Ca2+ activities, we demonstrated that acute noxious mechanical stimuli like tail-pinch increased the Ca2+ activity of dopamine D2 receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons (D2-MSNs) in the VLS in correlation with the stimulus intensities in mice, whereas mechanical stimuli increased the VMS D2-MSN activity independent of the stimulus intensities. Likewise, thermal stimuli decreased the VLS and VMS D2-MSN Ca2+ activities during nociceptive behaviors in the hot plate test. Furthermore, the VLS D2-MSNs increased their Ca2+ activity accompanied by formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors in mice, whereas the VMS D2-MSNs decreased it. The optogenetic inhibition of VLS D2-MSN activity increased the formalin-induced pain-related behavior in mice, thus suggesting the inhibitory effect of VLS D2-MSN activity on chemical nociceptive behavior, in contrast to previous reports that the VMS D2-MSNs could not involve the behavior. Therefore, the VLS D2-MSNs exhibited region-specific roles in nociception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiyo Natsubori
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan.
| | - Momoka Miyazawa
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan; Faculty of Science Division Ⅱ, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3, Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan
| | - Takashi Kojima
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Makoto Honda
- Sleep Disorders Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
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Tang HD, Dong WY, Hu R, Huang JY, Huang ZH, Xiong W, Xue T, Liu J, Yu JM, Zhu X, Zhang Z. A neural circuit for the suppression of feeding under persistent pain. Nat Metab 2022; 4:1746-1755. [PMID: 36443522 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00688-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In humans, persistent pain often leads to decreased appetite. However, the neural circuits underlying this behaviour remain unclear. Here, we show that a circuit arising from glutamatergic neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (GluACC) projects to glutamatergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area (GluLHA) to blunt food intake in a mouse model of persistent pain. In turn, these GluLHA neurons project to pro-opiomelanocortin neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (POMCArc), a well-known neuronal population involved in decreasing food intake. In vivo calcium imaging and multi-tetrode electrophysiological recordings reveal that the GluACC → GluLHA → Arc circuit is activated in mouse models of persistent pain and is accompanied by decreased feeding behaviour in both males and females. Inhibition of this circuit using chemogenetics can alleviate the feeding suppression symptoms. Our study indicates that the GluACC → GluLHA → Arc circuit is involved in driving the suppression of feeding under persistent pain through POMC neuronal activity. This previously unrecognized pathway could be explored as a potential target for pain-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Di Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Wan-Ying Dong
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Rui Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Hefei), Hefei, China
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ji-Ye Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Zhao-Huan Huang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Brain-inspired Intelligence Technology and Application, School of Information Science and Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Tian Xue
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ji Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Brain-inspired Intelligence Technology and Application, School of Information Science and Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, China.
| | - Jun-Ma Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Hefei), Hefei, China.
| | - Xia Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
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Ittiyavirah SP, Ramalingam K, Sathyan A, Rajasree R, Kuruniyan MS, Quadri SA, Elayadeth-Meethal M, Naseef PP. Thymoquinone-rich black cumin oil attenuates ibotenic acid-induced excitotoxicity through glutamate receptors in Wistar rats. Saudi Pharm J 2022; 30:1781-1790. [PMID: 36601514 PMCID: PMC9805979 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2022.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation-mediated alterations in glutamate neurotransmission constitute the most important pathway in the pathophysiology of various brain disorders. The excessive signalling of glutamate results in excitotoxicity, neuronal degeneration, and neuronal cell death. In the present study, we investigated the relative efficacy of black cumin (Nigella sativa) oil with high (5 % w/w) and low (2 % w/w) thymoquinone content (BCO-5 and BCO-2, respectively) in alleviating ibotenic acid-induced excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation in Wistar rats. It was found that BCO-5 reversed the abnormal behavioural patterns and the key inflammatory mediators (TNF-α and NF-κB) when treated at 5 mg/kg body weight. Immunohistochemical studies showed the potential of BCO-5 to attenuate the glutamate receptor subunits NMDA and GluR-2 along with increased glutamate decarboxylase levels in the brain tissues. Histopathological studies revealed the neuroprotection of BCO-5 against the inflammatory lesions, as evidenced by the normal cerebellum, astrocytes, and glial cells. BCO-2 on the other hand showed either a poor protective effect or no effect even at a 4-fold higher concentration of 20 mg/kg body weight indicating a very significant role of thymoquinone content on the neuroprotective effect of black cumin oil and its plausible clinical efficacy in counteracting the anxiety and stress-related neurological disorders under conditions such as depression and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibi P Ittiyavirah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Centre for Professional and Advanced Sciences, Cheruvandoor, Kottayam 686631, India
| | - Kannan Ramalingam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Centre for Professional and Advanced Sciences, Cheruvandoor, Kottayam 686631, India
| | - Arathy Sathyan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Centre for Professional and Advanced Sciences, Cheruvandoor, Kottayam 686631, India
| | - R.S. Rajasree
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government Thirumala Devaswom Medical College, Alappuzha 688005, India
| | - Mohamed Saheer Kuruniyan
- Department of Dental Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Syed Altafuddin Quadri
- Department of Dental Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammed Elayadeth-Meethal
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanad 675621, India
| | - Punnoth Poonkuzhi Naseef
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Moulana College of Pharmacy, Perinthalmanna 679321, India,Corresponding author.
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Chang P, Fabrizi L, Fitzgerald M. Early Life Pain Experience Changes Adult Functional Pain Connectivity in the Rat Somatosensory and the Medial Prefrontal Cortex. J Neurosci 2022; 42:8284-8296. [PMID: 36192150 PMCID: PMC9653276 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0416-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life pain (ELP) experience alters adult pain behavior and increases injury-induced pain hypersensitivity, but the effect of ELP on adult functional brain connectivity is not known. We have performed continuous local field potential (LFP) recording in the awake adult male rats to test the effect of ELP on functional cortical connectivity related to pain behavior. Primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) LFPs evoked by mechanical hindpaw stimulation were recorded simultaneously with pain reflex behavior for 10 d after adult incision injury. We show that, after adult injury, sensory evoked S1 LFP δ and γ energy and S1 LFP δ/γ frequency coupling are significantly increased in ELP rats compared with controls. Adult injury also induces increases in S1-mPFC functional connectivity, but this is significantly prolonged in ELP rats, lasting 4 d compared with 1 d in controls. Importantly, the increases in LFP energy and connectivity in ELP rats were directly correlated with increased behavioral pain hypersensitivity. Thus, ELP alters adult brain functional connectivity, both within and between cortical areas involved in sensory and affective dimensions of pain. The results reveal altered brain connectivity as a mechanism underlying the effects of ELP on adult pain perception.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Pain and stress in early life has a lasting impact on pain behavior and may increase vulnerability to chronic pain in adults. Here, we record pain-related cortical activity and simultaneous pain behavior in awake adult male rats previously exposed to pain in early life. We show that functional connectivity within and between the somatosensory cortex and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is increased in these rats and that these increases are correlated with their behavioral pain hypersensitivity. The results reveal that early life pain (ELP) alters adult brain connectivity, which may explain the impact of childhood pain on adult chronic pain vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pishan Chang
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, Medawar Pain and Somatosensory Labs, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Lorenzo Fabrizi
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, Medawar Pain and Somatosensory Labs, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Fitzgerald
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, Medawar Pain and Somatosensory Labs, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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Activation of VIP interneurons in the prefrontal cortex ameliorates neuropathic pain aversiveness. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111333. [PMID: 36103825 PMCID: PMC9520588 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
While dysfunction of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been implicated in chronic pain, the underlying neural circuits and the contribution of specific cellular populations remain unclear. Using in vivo Ca2+ imaging, we report that in both male and female mice, peripheral nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain causes a marked reduction of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-expressing interneuron activity in the prelimbic area of the mPFC, which contributes to decreased prefrontal cortical outputs. Moreover, prelimbic glutamatergic projections to GABAergic interneurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) are diminished, leading to loss of cortical-cortical inhibition and increased pyramidal neuron activity in the ACC. Chemogenetic activation of prelimbic VIP interneurons restores neuronal responses in the mPFC-ACC pathway and attenuates pain-like behaviors in mice. Furthermore, restoration of prelimbic outputs to the ACC reverses nerve injury-induced ACC hyperactivation. These findings reveal mPFC circuit changes associated with neuropathic pain and highlight VIP interneurons as potential therapeutic targets for pain treatment.
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Cholinergic basal forebrain nucleus of Meynert regulates chronic pain-like behavior via modulation of the prelimbic cortex. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5014. [PMID: 36008394 PMCID: PMC9411538 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32558-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The basal nucleus of Meynert (NBM) subserves critically important functions in attention, arousal and cognition via its profound modulation of neocortical activity and is emerging as a key target in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's dementias. Despite the crucial role of neocortical domains in pain perception, however, the NBM has not been studied in models of chronic pain. Here, using in vivo tetrode recordings in behaving mice, we report that beta and gamma oscillatory activity is evoked in the NBM by noxious stimuli and is facilitated at peak inflammatory pain-like behavior. Optogenetic and chemogenetic cell-specific, reversible manipulations of NBM cholinergic-GABAergic neurons reveal their role in endogenous control of nociceptive hypersensitivity, which are manifest via projections to the prelimbic cortex, resulting in layer 5-mediated antinociception. Our data unravel the importance of the NBM in top-down control of neocortical processing of pain-like behavior.
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Resting-State Functional Connectivity Analyses: Brain Functional Reorganization in a Rat Model of Postherpetic Neuralgia. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12081029. [PMID: 36009092 PMCID: PMC9405817 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12081029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a chronic neuropathic pain syndrome, similar to other chronic pains, the mechanisms of which are not fully understood. To further understand the neural mechanism of this chronic pain and its transition, we performed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans on PHN rat models. Twelve PHN rat models were established by intraperitoneal injection of resiniferatoxin, with an additional 12 rats serving as controls. Nociceptive behavioral tests were performed on these rats and fMRI scans were performed on days 7 and 14 after modeling. Functional connection (FC) analysis was used to investigate the brain FC alterations associated with chronic pain in PHN rats, with the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as a seed. Nociceptive behavioral tests showed that PHN rats presented symptoms similar to those of PHN patients. FC analysis showed that compared to the control group, the PHN group showed different FC patterns on days 7 and 14. As can be seen, the brain FC alterations in the rat model of PHN changed dynamically, shifting from brain regions processing sensory information to regions processing emotions and motives.
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Behavioral and receptor expression studies on the primary somatosensory cortex and anterior cingulate cortex oxytocin involvement in modulation of sensory and affective dimensions of neuropathic pain induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation in rats. Physiol Behav 2022; 251:113818. [PMID: 35443199 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain cortical areas are involved in processing of sensory, affective and cognitive aspects of pain. In the present study, microinjection effects of oxytocin and L-368,899 (an oxytocin receptor antagonist) into the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were investigated on sensory and affective aspects of neuropathic pain. METHODS Neuropathic pain was induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL). Seven days later, right and left sides of S1 and ACC were surgically implanted with guide cannulas. Sensory (day 14) and affective (day 17) dimensions were recorded using von Frey filaments and place escape avoidance paradigm, respectively. The S1 and ACC oxytocin receptor protein expression were also determined. RESULTS The S1 and ACC oxytocin suppressed PSNL-induced mechanical allodynia, whereas PSNL-induced aversion was attenuated by ACC oxytocin. In the S1, alone L-368,899 with no effect on aversion increased mechanical allodynia, whereas, in the ACC, this treatment increased both mechanical allodynia and aversion. Pre-treatment with L-368,899 prevented oxytocin-induced anti-allodynia and anti-aversion. Oxytocin and L-368,899 did not alter mechanical allodynia in intact and sham groups. All the above-mentioned treatments did not change crossing number. The density of oxytocin receptors in the S1 and ACC of PSNL group was increased 1.5-2 folds in comparison to intact and sham groups. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study explained that the ACC and S1 oxytocin ameliorated sensory component of neuropathic pain, whereas affective component was attenuated only by ACC oxytocin. These effects might be related to the PSNL-increased oxytocin receptor expression in the S1 and ACC.
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Common and stimulus-type-specific brain representations of negative affect. Nat Neurosci 2022; 25:760-770. [DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01082-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Dai W, Huang S, Luo Y, Cheng X, Xia P, Yang M, Zhao P, Zhang Y, Lin WJ, Ye X. Sex-Specific Transcriptomic Signatures in Brain Regions Critical for Neuropathic Pain-Induced Depression. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:886916. [PMID: 35663269 PMCID: PMC9159910 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.886916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a chronic debilitating condition with a high comorbidity with depression. Clinical reports and animal studies have suggested that both the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) are critically implicated in regulating the affective symptoms of neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain induces differential long-term structural, functional, and biochemical changes in both regions, which are thought to be regulated by multiple waves of gene transcription. However, the differences in the transcriptomic profiles changed by neuropathic pain between these regions are largely unknown. Furthermore, women are more susceptible to pain and depression than men. The molecular mechanisms underlying this sexual dimorphism remain to be explored. Here, we performed RNA sequencing and analyzed the transcriptomic profiles of the mPFC and ACC of female and male mice at 2 weeks after spared nerve injury (SNI), an early time point when the mice began to show mild depressive symptoms. Our results showed that the SNI-induced transcriptomic changes in female and male mice were largely distinct. Interestingly, the female mice exhibited more robust transcriptomic changes in the ACC than male, whereas the opposite pattern occurred in the mPFC. Cell type enrichment analyses revealed that the differentially expressed genes involved genes enriched in neurons, various types of glia and endothelial cells. We further performed gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), which revealed significant de-enrichment of myelin sheath development in both female and male mPFC after SNI. In the female ACC, gene sets for synaptic organization were enriched, and gene sets for extracellular matrix were de-enriched after SNI, while such signatures were absent in male ACC. Collectively, these findings revealed region-specific and sexual dimorphism at the transcriptional levels induced by neuropathic pain, and provided novel therapeutic targets for chronic pain and its associated affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiping Dai
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuying Huang
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Luo
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Cheng
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pei Xia
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengqian Yang
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Panwu Zhao
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingying Zhang
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei-Jye Lin
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaojing Ye,
| | - Xiaojing Ye
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Wei-Jye Lin,
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Casale R, Hansson P. The analgesic effect of localized vibration: a systematic review. Part 1: the neurophysiological basis. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2022; 58:306-315. [PMID: 35102735 PMCID: PMC9980599 DOI: 10.23736/s1973-9087.22.07415-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The analgesic action of localized vibration (LV), which is used in rehabilitation medicine to treat various clinical conditions, is usually attributed to spinal gate control, but is actually more complex. The aim of this review is: 1) to provide neurophysiological insights into the mechanisms underlying the ways in which afferent activity set up by LV induces analgesia through interactions with the nociceptive system throughout the nervous system; 2) to give a broader vision of the different effects induced by LV, some of them still related to basic science speculation. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION The Medline, EMBASE, AMED, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science and ROAD databases were searched for animal and human neurophysiological and neurohormonal studies related to the direct effects of LV on nociceptive transmission and pain perception and were supplemented by published books and theses. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS The spinal gate control mechanism through Aβ-fibers activation seems to be the most effective antinociceptive system activated by LV at frequencies between 100 and 250 Hz (high-frequency LV [HF-LV]) when applied in the same segment as the pain. A gating effect can be obtained also when it is applied contralaterally to the painful site or to adjacent dermatomes. Kinesthetic illusions of movement induced by HF-LV may induce a stronger analgesic effect. Activation of C-mechanoreceptors induced by a massage-like LV of low frequency and low intensity may interfere with pain through the activation of the limbic system. This action does not involve any gating mechanism. Frequency is more important than intensity as different frequencies induce activity in different cortical and cerebellar areas; these activations may be related to plastic cortical changes tentatively reversing pain-related maladaptive disorganization. Distraction/shift of attention or cortisol-mediated stress-induced analgesia are not involved in LV analgesic action in humans for both LF and HF. The release of opioidergic neuropeptides (analgesia not reversed by naloxone) as well as a reduction in substance P in the CSF does not seem to play a major role in the HF-LV action. Decrease in calcitonin and TRPV1 expression in the trigeminal ganglia in animals has been induced by HF-LV but the role of LF-LV is not completely deciphered. Both high and low LV induce the release of oxytocin, which may induce antinociceptive responses in animals and contribute to controlling pain in humans. CONCLUSIONS Although many aspects of LV-induced pain alleviation deserve more in-depth basic and translational studies, there are sound neurophysiological reasons for using LV in the therapeutic armamentarium of pain control. Laboratory animal and human data indicate that LV relieves pain not only by acting on the spinal gate, but also at higher levels of the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Per Hansson
- Department of Pain Management and Research, Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Neuropathic Pain, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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50
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Chronic facial inflammatory pain-induced anxiety is associated with bilateral deactivation of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex. Brain Res Bull 2022; 184:88-98. [PMID: 35339627 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Patients with chronic pain, especially orofacial pain, often suffer from affective disorders, including anxiety. Previous studies largely focused on the role of the caudal anterior cingulate cortex (cACC) in affective responses to pain, long-term potentiation (LTP) in cACC being thought to mediate the interaction between anxiety and chronic pain. But recent evidence indicates that the rostral ACC (rACC), too, is implicated in processing affective pain. However, whether such processing is associated with neuronal and/or synaptic plasticity is still unknown. We addressed this issue in a chronic facial inflammatory pain model (complete Freund's adjuvant model) in rats, by combining behavior, Fos protein immunochemistry and ex vivo intracellular recordings in rACC slices prepared from these animals. Facial mechanical allodynia occurs immediately after CFA injection, peaks at post-injection day 3 and progressively recovers until post-injection days 10-11, whereas anxiety is delayed, being present at post-injection day 10, when sensory hypersensitivity is relieved, but, notably, not at post-injection day 3. Fos expression reveals that neuronal activity follows a bi-phasic time course in bilateral rACC: first enhanced at post-injection day 3, it gets strongly depressed at post-injection day 10. Ex vivo recordings from lamina V pyramidal neurons, the rACC projecting neurons, show that both their intrinsic excitability and excitatory synaptic inputs have undergone long-term depression (LTD) at post-injection day 10. Thus chronic pain processing is associated with dynamic changes in rACC activity: first enhanced and subsequently decreased, at the time of anxiety-like behavior. Chronic pain-induced anxiety might thus result from a rACC deactivation-cACC hyperactivation interplay.
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