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Kim HK, Wang Q, Hwang SH, Dougherty PM, Wang J, Abdi S. Bardoxolone Methyl Ameliorates Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain by Activation of Phosphorylated Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 in the Dorsal Root Ganglia. Anesth Analg 2024; 138:664-675. [PMID: 38112490 PMCID: PMC10922949 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000006736] [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] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many chemotherapeutic drugs, including paclitaxel, produce neuropathic pain in patients with cancer, which is a dose-dependent adverse effect. Such chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP) is difficult to treat with existing drugs. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a major regulator of antioxidative responses and activates phosphorylated Nrf2 (pNrf2). We determined the analgesic effects of bardoxolone methyl (BM), an Nrf2 activator, and the role of pNrf2 on CINP. METHODS CINP was induced in rats by intraperitoneally injecting paclitaxel on 4 alternate days in rats. BM was injected systemically as single or repeated injections after pain fully developed. RNA transcriptome, mechanical hyperalgesia, levels of inflammatory mediators and pNrf2, and location of pNrf2 in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were measured by RNA sequencing, von Frey filaments, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry in rats and human DRG samples. In addition, the mitochondrial functions in 50B11 DRG neuronal cells were measured by fluorescence assay. RESULTS Our RNA transcriptome of CINP rats showed a downregulated Nrf2 pathway in the pain condition. Importantly, single and repeated systemic injections of BM ameliorated CINP. Paclitaxel increased inflammatory mediators, but BM decreased them and increased pNrf2 in the DRG. In addition, paclitaxel decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and increased mitochondrial volume in 50B11 cells, but BM restored them. Furthermore, pNrf2 was expressed in neurons and satellite cells in rat and human DRG. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate the analgesic effects of BM by Nrf2 activation and the fundamental role of pNrf2 on CINP, suggesting a target for CINP and a therapeutic strategy for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee Kee Kim
- Department of Pain Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Seon-Hee Hwang
- Department of Pain Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Patrick M Dougherty
- Department of Pain Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Salahadin Abdi
- Department of Pain Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Mousavi SH, Lindsey JW, Westlund KN, Alles SRA. Trigeminal Neuralgia as a Primary Demyelinating Disease: Potential Multimodal Evidence and Remaining Controversies. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024; 25:302-311. [PMID: 37643657 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Trigeminal neuralgia is a heterogeneous disorder with likely multifactorial and complex etiology; however, trigeminal nerve demyelination and injury are observed in almost all patients with trigeminal neuralgia. The current management strategies for trigeminal neuralgia primarily involve anticonvulsants and surgical interventions, neither of which directly address demyelination, the pathological hallmark of trigeminal neuralgia, and treatments targeting demyelination are not available. Demyelination of the trigeminal nerve has been historically considered a secondary effect of vascular compression, and as a result, trigeminal neuralgia is not recognized nor treated as a primary demyelinating disorder. In this article, we review the evolution of our understanding of trigeminal neuralgia and provide evidence to propose its potential categorization, at least in some cases, as a primary demyelinating disease by discussing its course and similarities to multiple sclerosis, the most prevalent central nervous system demyelinating disorder. This proposed categorization may provide a basis in investigating novel treatment modalities beyond the current medical and surgical interventions, emphasizing the need for further research into demyelination of the trigeminal sensory pathway in trigeminal neuralgia. PERSPECTIVE: This article proposes trigeminal neuralgia as a demyelinating disease, supported by histological, clinical, and radiological evidence. Such categorization offers a plausible explanation for controversies surrounding trigeminal neuralgia. This perspective holds potential for future research and developing therapeutics targeting demyelination in the condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed H Mousavi
- Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas
| | - John W Lindsey
- Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas
| | - Karin N Westlund
- Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Sascha R A Alles
- Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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3
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Zeng D, Yin C, Wei H, Li Y, Yang Y, Nie H, Pan Y, Xu R, Tai Y, Du J, Liu J, Wang P, Liu B, Liu B. Activation of Nrf2 antioxidant signaling alleviates gout arthritis pain and inflammation. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 170:115957. [PMID: 38042115 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115957] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal in the joint results in gout arthritis, which triggers severe pain and affects life quality. Oxidative stress is a pivotal mechanism that contributes to etiology of gout pain and inflammation. Here we investigated whether activating Nrf2, which plays important roles in regulating endogenous antioxidant response, would attenuate gout arthritis via promoting antioxidant signaling in joint tissues. Gout arthritis model was established by intra-articular injection of MSU (500 μg/ankle) into the right ankle joint of mouse. Pharmacologically activating Nrf2 by activator oltipraz (50, 100 or 150 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) at 1 h before and 5, 23, 47 h after model establishment dose-dependently inhibited joint inflammation, mechanical and heat hypersensitivities in model mice. Oltipraz (100 mg/kg) reversed gait impairments without altering locomotor activity and reduced neutrophil infiltrations in ankle joints. In vitro studies revealed oltipraz (25 μM) inhibited MSU-induced ROS production in mouse macrophages and improved mitochondrial bioenergetics impairments caused by MSU. In vivo ROS imaging combined with biochemical assays confirmed the antioxidant effects of oltipraz on model mice. Nrf2 activation inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine overproduction in ankle joint and attenuated the overexpression and enhancement in TRPV1 channel in DRG neurons innervating hind limb. Therapeutic effects of oltipraz were abolished by inhibiting Nrf2 or in Nrf2 knockout mice. These results suggest pharmacologically activating Nrf2 alleviates gout pain, gait impairments, inflammation and peripheral sensitization via Nrf2-dependent antioxidant mechanism. Targeting Nrf2 may represent a novel treatment option for gout arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyi Zeng
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chengyu Yin
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huina Wei
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yunqin Yang
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huimin Nie
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yushuang Pan
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ruoyao Xu
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan Tai
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Junying Du
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinggen Liu
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Boyu Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Boyi Liu
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
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Yousuf MS, Moreno MM, Li J, He L, Royer D, Zhang J, Woodall BJ, Grace PM, Price TJ. Diroximel fumarate acts through Nrf2 to attenuate methylglyoxal-induced nociception in mice and decreases ISR activation in DRG neurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.22.572877. [PMID: 38187575 PMCID: PMC10769417 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.22.572877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Diabetic neuropathic pain is associated with elevated plasma levels of methylglyoxal (MGO). MGO is a metabolite of glycolysis that causes mechanical hypersensitivity in mice by inducing the integrated stress response (ISR), which is characterized by phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (p-eIF2α). Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of antioxidant proteins that neutralize MGO. We hypothesized that activating Nrf2 using diroximel fumarate (DRF) would alleviate MGO-induced pain hypersensitivity. We pretreated male and female C57BL/6 mice daily with oral DRF prior to intraplantar injection of MGO (20 ng). DRF (100 mg/kg) treated animals were protected from developing MGO-induced mechanical and cold hypersensitivity. Using Nrf2 knockout mice we demonstrate that Nrf2 is necessary for the anti-nociceptive effects of DRF. In cultured mouse and human dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons, we found that MGO induced elevated levels of p-eIF2α. Co-treatment of MGO (1 μM) with monomethyl fumarate (MMF, 10, 20, 50 μM), the active metabolite of DRF, reduced p-eIF2α levels and prevented aberrant neurite outgrowth in human DRG neurons. Our data show that targeting the Nrf2 antioxidant system with DRF is a strategy to potentially alleviate pain associated with elevated MGO levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Saad Yousuf
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Marisol Mancilla Moreno
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Jiahe Li
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Lucy He
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Danielle Royer
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Jennifer Zhang
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Brodie J Woodall
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Peter M Grace
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Theodore J Price
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies and Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
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5
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Song G, Wang J, Liu J, Ruan Y. Dimethyl fumarate ameliorates erectile dysfunction in bilateral cavernous nerve injury rats by inhibiting oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis of nerve via activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Redox Biol 2023; 68:102938. [PMID: 37931471 PMCID: PMC10652210 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102938] [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: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the therapeutic potential of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in improving erectile function of bilateral cavernous nerve injury (BCNI) rats, along with elucidating its underlying mechanisms. METHODS A BCNI rat model was established by clamping bilateral cavernous nerve (CN). DMF was given by gavage at low (20 mg/kg/day) and high (40 mg/kg/day) dosages for a duration of 4 weeks. Erectile function was assessed by electrical stimulation of CN. Penis and CN tissues were collected for subsequent analysis. Additionally, PC-12 cell line was used to verify the mechanism of DMF in vitro. Nfe2l2 or Ho-1 gene knockdown PC-12 cell lines were constructed by lentiviral transfection, respectively. A damaged cell model was induced using H2O2. And then molecular biological methods were employed to analyze cellular molecules and proteins. RESULTS DMF administration for 4 weeks led to improvements in erectile function, reduced fibrosis of penis corpus cavernosum in BCNI rats. The morphology of CN was improved and the number of nerve fibers increased. Furthermore, the levels of nNOS, NO, and cGMP were increased, while Ca2+ was decreased in penis corpus cavernosum. Notably, the levels of ROS, 3-NT and NLRP3 inflammasomes production were reduced, alongside increased expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins in the dorsal penile nerve (DPN) and CN. In vitro, DMF increased cell viability, reduced ROS level, promoted SOD, diminished 3-NT, MDA and DNA damage markers, and inhibited the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in H2O2 induced PC-12 cells. Nfe2l2 knockdown and Ho-1 knockdown significantly attenuated the protective effect of DMF, respectively. Furthermore, inhibition of ROS production by N-acetylcysteine led to a reduction in NLRP3 inflammasome activation in H2O2 induced PC-12 cells. CONCLUSIONS DMF improved erectile function of BCNI rats by protecting nerves through inhibiting oxidative stress and the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis via activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoda Song
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Second Clinical College, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jiaxin Wang
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jihong Liu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Yajun Ruan
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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Ciapała K, Mika J. Advances in Neuropathic Pain Research: Selected Intracellular Factors as Potential Targets for Multidirectional Analgesics. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1624. [PMID: 38004489 PMCID: PMC10675751 DOI: 10.3390/ph16111624] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a complex and debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Unlike acute pain, which is short-term and starts suddenly in response to an injury, neuropathic pain arises from somatosensory nervous system damage or disease, is usually chronic, and makes every day functioning difficult, substantially reducing quality of life. The main reason for the lack of effective pharmacotherapies for neuropathic pain is its diverse etiology and the complex, still poorly understood, pathophysiological mechanism of its progression. Numerous experimental studies, including ours, conducted over the last several decades have shown that the development of neuropathic pain is based on disturbances in cell activity, imbalances in the production of pronociceptive factors, and changes in signaling pathways such as p38MAPK, ERK, JNK, NF-κB, PI3K, and NRF2, which could become important targets for pharmacotherapy in the future. Despite the availability of many different analgesics, relieving neuropathic pain is still extremely difficult and requires a multidirectional, individual approach. We would like to point out that an increasing amount of data indicates that nonselective compounds directed at more than one molecular target exert promising analgesic effects. In our review, we characterize four substances (minocycline, astaxanthin, fisetin, and peimine) with analgesic properties that result from a wide spectrum of actions, including the modulation of MAPKs and other factors. We would like to draw attention to these selected substances since, in preclinical studies, they show suitable analgesic properties in models of neuropathy of various etiologies, and, importantly, some are already used as dietary supplements; for example, astaxanthin and fisetin protect against oxidative stress and have anti-inflammatory properties. It is worth emphasizing that the results of behavioral tests also indicate their usefulness when combined with opioids, the effectiveness of which decreases when neuropathy develops. Moreover, these substances appear to have additional, beneficial properties for the treatment of diseases that frequently co-occur with neuropathic pain. Therefore, these substances provide hope for the development of modern pharmacological tools to not only treat symptoms but also restore the proper functioning of the human body.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joanna Mika
- Department of Pain Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna Str., 31-343 Kraków, Poland;
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Suárez-Rojas I, Pérez-Fernández M, Bai X, Martínez-Martel I, Intagliata S, Pittalà V, Salerno L, Pol O. The Inhibition of Neuropathic Pain Incited by Nerve Injury and Accompanying Mood Disorders by New Heme Oxygenase-1 Inducers: Mechanisms Implicated. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1859. [PMID: 37891937 PMCID: PMC10603856 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12101859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a type of pain that persists for a long time and becomes pathological. Additionally, the anxiodepressive disorders derived from neuropathic pain are difficult to palliate with the current treatments and need to be resolved. Then, using male mice with neuropathic pain provoked by chronic constriction of the sciatic nerve (CCI), we analyzed and compared the analgesic actions produced by three new heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) inducers, 1m, 1b, and 1a, with those performed by dimethyl fumarate (DMF). Their impact on the anxiety- and depressive-like comportments and the expression of the inflammasome NLRP3, Nrf2, and some antioxidant enzymes in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and amygdala (AMG) were also investigated. Results revealed that the administration of 1m, 1b, and DMF given orally for four days inhibited the allodynia and hyperalgesia caused by CCI, while 1a merely reduced the mechanical allodynia. However, in the first two days of treatment, the antiallodynic effects produced by 1m were higher than those of 1a and DMF, and its antihyperalgesic actions were greater than those produced by 1b, 1a, and DMF, revealing that 1m was the most effective compound. At four days of treatment, all drugs exerted anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, decreased the NLRP3 levels, and increased/normalized the Nrf2, HO-1, and superoxide dismutase 1 levels in DRG and AMG. Data indicated that the dual modulation of the antioxidant and inflammatory pathways produced by these compounds, especially 1m, is a new promising therapeutic approach for neuropathic pain and related emotional illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Suárez-Rojas
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montse Pérez-Fernández
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xue Bai
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Martínez-Martel
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Valeria Pittalà
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Princess Al Jawhara Centre for Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 329, Bahrain
| | - Loredana Salerno
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Olga Pol
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
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Zaino B, Goel R, Devaragudi S, Prakash A, Vaghamashi Y, Sethi Y, Patel N, Kaka N. Diabetic neuropathy: Pathogenesis and evolving principles of management. Dis Mon 2023; 69:101582. [PMID: 37164794 DOI: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2023.101582] [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] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The global rise of prediabetes and diabetes has spawned an epidemic of complications associated with these conditions. Neuropathy is the most common consequence, with distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP) being the most prevalent. Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a debilitating consequence of diabetes mellitus resulting in the highest morbidity and death, besides imposing a substantial financial burden on the patient. Loss of sensory function commencing distally in the lower limbs, accompanied by discomfort and considerable morbidity, characterizes diabetic neuropathy. The clinical evaluation and therapeutic options for diabetic peripheral neuropathy are multifaceted. At least fifty percent of people with diabetes acquire diabetic neuropathy over time. Good glycemic control halts the evolution in individuals with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. These results have prompted fresh attempts to comprehend the origin and develop new guidelines for prevention and treatment. New recommendations have also been established for the treatment of painful DN using separate classes of medications, with an emphasis on avoiding the use of opioids. Although our comprehension of the intricacies of diabetic neuropathy has progressed significantly over the past decade, the unique processes driving the neuropathy in type 1 and type 2 diabetes remain unexplained. Currently, glycemic control and pain management are the only effective therapies. While glucose management significantly reduces neuropathy development in type 1 diabetics, the effect is considerably lower in type 2 diabetics. Evidence supports the use of anticonvulsants and antidepressants for diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain treatment. However, the absence of disease-modifying medications for diabetic DSP necessitates the identification of unrecognized modifiable risk factors. It is imperative to identify the 'missed' risk factors and targets, allowing comprehensive, individualized care for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basem Zaino
- Tishreen University, Syria; PearResearch, India
| | - Rashika Goel
- Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, India; PearResearch, India
| | - Sanjana Devaragudi
- Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Hyderabad, India; PearResearch, India
| | - Ananya Prakash
- Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bangalore, India; PearResearch, India
| | - Yogeshkumar Vaghamashi
- Bicol Christian College of Medicine, Legazpi city, Philippines; Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Yashendra Sethi
- PearResearch, India; Government Doon Medical College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Neil Patel
- PearResearch, India; GMERS Medical College Himmatnagar, India.
| | - Nirja Kaka
- PearResearch, India; GMERS Medical College Himmatnagar, India
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Clements MA, Kwilasz AJ, Litwiler ST, Sents Z, Woodall BJ, Hayashida K, Watkins LR. Intrathecal non-viral interleukin-10 gene therapy ameliorates neuropathic pain as measured by both classical static allodynia and a novel supra-spinally mediated pain assay, the Two-Arm Rodent Somatosensory (TARS) task. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 111:177-185. [PMID: 37037361 PMCID: PMC10330316 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrathecal delivery of interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene therapy has been reported to be effective in suppressing pain enhancement in a variety of rodent models. However, all publications that have tested this treatment have relied upon measures of static allodynia (von Frey test) and thermal hyperalgesia (Hargreaves test). As this plasmid DNA IL-10 (pDNA-IL10) therapeutic approach is now in human clinical trials for multiple pain indications, including intrathecal delivery for human neuropathic pain, it is important to consider the recent concerns raised in the pain field that such tests reflect spinal rather than supraspinal processing of, and responsivity to, noxious stimuli. Consequently, this raises the question of whether intrathecal pDNA-IL10 can reverse established neuropathic pain when assessed by a test requiring supraspinal, rather than solely spinal, mediation of the behavioral response. The present study utilizes the rat sciatic chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain to compare the expression of static allodynia with that of cognitively controlled choice behavior in a two-arm maze, adapted from Hayashida et al. (2019). This modification, termed the Two-Arm Rodent Somatosensory (TARS) task, provides rats free choice to reach a desired goal box via a short "arm" of the maze with tactile probes as flooring versus a longer "arm" of the maze with a smooth surface. Here we demonstrate that static allodynia and avoidance of the nociceptive flooring in TARS develop in parallel over time, and that both behaviors also resolve in parallel following intrathecal pDNA-IL10 gene therapy. Details for the construction and use of this new maze design are also provided. Together, this study documents both: (a) the important finding that intrathecal IL-10 gene therapy does indeed resolve neuropathic pain as measured by a supraspinally-mediated behavioral task, and (b) a new, supraspinally-mediated task that allows behavioral assessments across weeks and allows the analysis of both development and resolution of neuropathic pain by therapeutic interventions. As such, the TARS operant behavior task is an improvement over other approaches such as the mechanical conflict-avoidance system which have difficulties demonstrating development and reversal of pain behavior in a within-subject design.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Clements
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado - Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - A J Kwilasz
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado - Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - S T Litwiler
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado - Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Z Sents
- Department of Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - B J Woodall
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado - Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - K Hayashida
- Pharmacology Department, Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ld., Kagoshima, Japan
| | - L R Watkins
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado - Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
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10
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Zhu XZ, Wang JQ, Wu YH. MG53 ameliorates nerve injury induced neuropathic pain through the regulation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling in rats. Behav Brain Res 2023; 449:114489. [PMID: 37169128 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114489] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is one of the most common types of chronic pain, and it arises as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease that affects the somatosensory system. Mitsugumin53 (MG53), which is a member of the TRIM family of proteins and is known as TRIM72, exerts protective effects on muscle, lung, kidney, brain, and other cells or tissues. Recently, increasing evidence has indicated that MG53 plays a vital role in regulating neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. However, the relationship between MG53 and neuropathic pain is unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of MG3 in neuropathic pain after chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the sciatic nerve in rats. To explore the mechanism of MG53 regulating the development of neuropathic pain, the rats was injected (intrathecal injection) of recombinant human MG53 (rhMG53) protein and/or nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) siRNA after CCI. Mechanical allodynia or thermal hyperalgesia was assessed by the 50% paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) or the paw withdrawal latency (PWL). The target molecules was detected using western blotting (WB), immunofluorescence (IF), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), biochemical evaluations, and Dihydroethidium (DHE) staining. The results indicated that the expression level of MG53 in the spinal cord was increased after CCI in rats. Moreover, intrathecal injection with rhMG53 protein notably alleviated CCI-induced mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, neuroinflammation,oxidative stress and the increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via activation of the Nrf2/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway. However, administration of Nrf2 siRNA abrogated the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of rhMG53 in CCI model rats. Our study demonstrated that MG53 improved neuropathic pain, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress via activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in the spinal cord of CCI model rats, which suggested that MG53 may serve as a new target for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan-Zhi Zhu
- HuangGang Central hospital of Yangtze University, HuangGang, Hubei province, China
| | - Jing-Qiong Wang
- HuangGang Central hospital of Yangtze University, HuangGang, Hubei province, China
| | - Yao-Hua Wu
- HuangGang Central hospital of Yangtze University, HuangGang, Hubei province, China.
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11
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Centeno Crespo P, Anderson Meira Martins L, Camacho Dos Reis C, Fernandes Medeiros L, Leal Scarabelot V, Duzzo Gamaro G, Sandrielly Pereira Soares M, Maria Spanevello R, Moro Stefanello F, Cristina Custódio De Souza I. Transcranial direct current stimulation effects in the pain threshold and in oxidative stress parameters of neuropathic pain rats. Neurosci Lett 2023; 803:137179. [PMID: 36914044 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can modulate cortical excitability and relieve neuropathic pain (NP), but the role of several biomarkers in this process is not well understood. This study aimed to analyze the effects of tDCS on biochemical parameters in rats with neuropathic pain (NP) induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the right sciatic nerve. Eighty-eight male 60-day-old Wistar rats were divided into nine groups: control (C), control-electrode off (CEoff), control-tDCS (C-tDCS), sham-lesion (SL), sham-lesion electrode off (SLEoff), sham-lesion (SL-tDCS), lesion (L), lesion electrode off (LEoff), and lesion-tDCS (L-tDCS). After NP establishment, 20-minute bimodal tDCS for 8 consecutive days was applied to the rats. Fourteen days after the induction of NP, rats developed mechanical hyperalgesia with a decreased threshold, and at the end of treatment, an increase in the pain threshold was observed in NP rats. In addition, NP rats had increased levels of reactive species (RS) in the prefrontal cortex, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was decreased in NP rats. In the spinal cord, nitrite levels and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity decreased in the L-tDCS group, and it was observed that increased levels in total sulfhydryl content for neuropathic pain rats were reversed by tDCS. In serum analyses, the neuropathic pain model increased the levels of RS and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and decreased the activity of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). In conclusion, bimodal tDCS increased total sulfhydryl content in the spinal cord of rats with neuropathic pain, positively modulating this parameter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Centeno Crespo
- Postgraduate Program in Bioprospecting and Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS 96010-900, Brazil; Laboratory of Cell Neuromodulation: Basic Research, Biology Institute, Department of Morphology, UFPel, Pelotas, RS 96030-000, Brazil
| | | | - Clara Camacho Dos Reis
- Laboratory of Cell Neuromodulation: Basic Research, Biology Institute, Department of Morphology, UFPel, Pelotas, RS 96030-000, Brazil
| | - Liciane Fernandes Medeiros
- Laboratory of Pain Pharmacology and Neuromodulation: Preclinical Researches, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS 90050-170, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health and Human Development, Unilasalle, Canoas, RS 92010-000, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Leal Scarabelot
- Laboratory of Pain Pharmacology and Neuromodulation: Preclinical Researches, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS 90050-170, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Medicine, Medical Sciences, Medicine School, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) Porto Alegre, RS 90035-003, Brazil
| | - Giovana Duzzo Gamaro
- Laboratory of Cell Neuromodulation: Basic Research, Biology Institute, Department of Morphology, UFPel, Pelotas, RS 96030-000, Brazil
| | - Mayara Sandrielly Pereira Soares
- Postgraduate Program in Bioprospecting and Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS 96010-900, Brazil; Laboratory of Biomarkers, Center of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Food Sciences, UFPel, Campus Universitário Capão do Leão s/n, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Roselia Maria Spanevello
- Postgraduate Program in Bioprospecting and Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS 96010-900, Brazil
| | - Francieli Moro Stefanello
- Postgraduate Program in Bioprospecting and Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS 96010-900, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Medicine, Medical Sciences, Medicine School, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) Porto Alegre, RS 90035-003, Brazil
| | - Izabel Cristina Custódio De Souza
- Postgraduate Program in Bioprospecting and Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS 96010-900, Brazil; Laboratory of Cell Neuromodulation: Basic Research, Biology Institute, Department of Morphology, UFPel, Pelotas, RS 96030-000, Brazil.
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12
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Taing K, Chen L, Weng HR. Emerging roles of GPR109A in regulation of neuroinflammation in neurological diseases and pain. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:763-768. [PMID: 36204834 PMCID: PMC9700108 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.354514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the pathological process of multiple neurological disorders and pathological pain conditions. GPR109A, a Gi protein-coupled receptor, has emerged as an important therapeutic target for controlling inflammation in various tissues and organs. In this review, we summarized current data about the role of GPR109A in neuroinflammation. Specifically, we focused on the pharmacological features of GPR109A and signaling pathways used by GPR109A to ameliorate neuroinflammation and symptoms in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and pathological pain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Taing
- Department of Basic Sciences, California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, CA, USA
| | - Lawrence Chen
- Department of Basic Sciences, California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, CA, USA
| | - Han-Rong Weng
- Department of Basic Sciences, California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, CA, USA
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13
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Drug repurposing – A search for novel therapy for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 156:113846. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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14
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Green-Fulgham SM, Harland ME, Ball JB, Li J, Lacagnina MJ, D’Angelo H, Dreher RA, Willcox KF, Lorca SA, Kwilasz AJ, Maier SF, Watkins LR, Grace PM. Preconditioning by voluntary wheel running attenuates later neuropathic pain via nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 antioxidant signaling in rats. Pain 2022; 163:1939-1951. [PMID: 35486864 PMCID: PMC9308835 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Animal and human studies have shown that exercise prior to nerve injury prevents later chronic pain, but the mechanisms of such preconditioning remain elusive. Given that exercise acutely increases the formation of free radicals, triggering antioxidant compensation, we hypothesized that voluntary running preconditioning would attenuate neuropathic pain by supporting redox homeostasis after sciatic nerve injury in male and female rats. We show that 6 weeks of voluntary wheel running suppresses neuropathic pain development induced by chronic constriction injury across both sexes. This attenuation was associated with reduced nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity-a marker for peroxynitrite-at the sciatic nerve injury site. Our data suggest that prior voluntary wheel running does not reduce the production of peroxynitrite precursors, as expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and NADPH oxidase 2 were unchanged. Instead, voluntary wheel running increased superoxide scavenging by elevating expression of superoxide dismutases 1 and 2. Prevention of neuropathic pain was further associated with the activation of the master transcriptional regulator of the antioxidant response, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Six weeks of prior voluntary wheel running increased Nrf2 nuclear translocation at the sciatic nerve injury site; in contrast, 3 weeks of prior wheel running, which failed to prevent neuropathic pain, had no effect on Nrf2 nuclear translocation. The protective effects of prior voluntary wheel running were mediated by Nrf2, as suppression was abolished across both sexes when Nrf2 activation was blocked during the 6-week running phase. This study provides insight into the mechanisms by which physical activity may prevent neuropathic pain. Preconditioning by voluntary wheel running, terminated prior to nerve injury, suppresses later neuropathic pain in both sexes, and it is modulated through the activation of Nrf2-antioxidant signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M. Green-Fulgham
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, and the Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Michael E. Harland
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, and the Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Jayson B. Ball
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, and the Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Jiahe Li
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- MD Anderson Pain Research Consortium, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael J. Lacagnina
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- MD Anderson Pain Research Consortium, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Heather D’Angelo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, and the Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Renee A. Dreher
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, and the Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Kendal F. Willcox
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- MD Anderson Pain Research Consortium, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sabina A. Lorca
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Andrew J. Kwilasz
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, and the Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Steven F. Maier
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, and the Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Linda R. Watkins
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, and the Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Peter M. Grace
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- MD Anderson Pain Research Consortium, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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15
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Casili G, Lanza M, Filippone A, Cucinotta L, Paterniti I, Repici A, Capra AP, Cuzzocrea S, Esposito E, Campolo M. Dimethyl Fumarate (DMF) Alleviated Post-Operative (PO) Pain through the N-Methyl-d-Aspartate (NMDA) Receptors. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11091774. [PMID: 36139848 PMCID: PMC9495385 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11091774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The management of post-operative (PO) pain has generally been shown to be inadequate; therefore, acquiring a novel understanding of PO pain mechanisms would increase the therapeutic options available. There is accumulating evidence to implicate N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the induction and maintenance of central sensitization during pain states by reinforcing glutamate sensory transmission. It is known that DMF protects from oxidative glutamate toxicity. Therefore, NMDA receptor antagonists have been implicated in peri-operative pain management. Recent advances demonstrated that dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a non-opioid and orally bioavailable drug, is able to resolve neuroinflammation through mechanisms that drive nociceptive hypersensitivity. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the role of DMF on pain and neuroinflammation in a mouse model of PO pain. An incision of the hind paw was performed, and DMF at two different doses (30 and 100 mg/kg) was administered by oral gavage for five consecutive days. Mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia and locomotor dysfunction were evaluated daily for five days after surgery. Mice were sacrificed at day 7 following PO pain induction, and hind paw and lumbar spinal cord samples were collected for histological and molecular studies. DMF administration significantly reduced hyperalgesia and allodynia, alleviating motor disfunction. Treatment with DMF significantly reduced histological damage, counteracted mast cell activation and reduced the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of the activated B cell (NF-κB) inflammatory pathway, in addition to downregulating tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-1β (Il-1β) and Il-4 expression. Interestingly, DMF treatment lowered the activation of NMDA receptor subtypes (NR2B and NR1) and the NMDA-receptor-interacting PDZ proteins, including PSD93 and PSD95. Furthermore, DMF interfered with calcium ion release, modulating nociception. Thus, DMF administration modulated PO pain, managing NMDA signaling pathways. The results suggest that DMF positively modulated persistent nociception related to PO pain, through predominantly NMDA-receptor-operated calcium channels.
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16
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Gao SJ, Li DY, Liu DQ, Sun J, Zhang LQ, Wu JY, Song FH, Zhou YQ, Mei W. Dimethyl Fumarate Attenuates Pain Behaviors in Osteoarthritis Rats via Induction of Nrf2-Mediated Mitochondrial Biogenesis. Mol Pain 2022; 18:17448069221124920. [PMID: 36065971 PMCID: PMC9478692 DOI: 10.1177/17448069221124920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic degenerative disease, leads to pain and loss of function. Existing treatments for OA pain have limited efficacy and show significant side effects. Dimethyl fumarate, a robust nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activator, could alleviate pain behaviors in chronic pain. This study aims to investigate the role of dimethyl fumarate in a rat model of OA and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS We used von Frey filaments to assess the mechanical allodynia. Weight-bearing apparatus was employed to assess the hindlimb weight distribution. Western blot was employed to investigate the protein expressions of mitochondrial biogenesis markers. RT-qPCR was employed to examine the copy number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). RESULTS Dimethyl fumarate upregulated mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MIA + Vehicle, 1.6 ± 0.13g [mean ± SEM]; MIA + DMF, 10.5 ± 0.96g; P < 0.0001). Hindlimb weight distribution was alao upregulated by dimethyl fumarate (MIA + Vehicle, 38.17 ± 0.72g; MIA + DMF, 43.59 ± 1.01g; P < 0.01). Besides, activation of Nrf2 remarkably upregulated the protein levels of PGC-1α (MIA + Vehicle, 0.69 ± 0.07; MIA + DMF, 1.08 ± 0.09; P = 0.0037), NRF1 (MIA + Vehicle, 0.69 ± 0.04; MIA + DMF, 1.00 ± 0.11; P = 0.0114), TFAM (MIA + Vehicle, 0.62 ± 0.11; MIA + DMF, 1.02 ± 0.12; P = 0.0147), and the copy number of mtDNA(MIA + Vehicle, 0.52 ± 0.05; MIA + DMF, 3.81 ± 0.21; P < 0.0001) Conclusions: Taken together, these results show that dimethyl fumarate alleviated pain-related behaviors in a rat model of OA through activation of Nrf2-induced mitochondrial biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Jie Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji
Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and
Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dan-Yang Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji
Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and
Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dai-Qiang Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji
Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and
Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji
Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and
Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Long-Qing Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji
Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and
Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia-Yi Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji
Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and
Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fan-He Song
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji
Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and
Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ya-Qun Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji
Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and
Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Mei
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji
Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and
Technology, Wuhan, China
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17
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Clinical Research Progress of Small Molecule Compounds Targeting Nrf2 for Treating Inflammation-Related Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11081564. [PMID: 36009283 PMCID: PMC9405369 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11081564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have found that inflammation is a symptom of various diseases, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA); it is also the source of other diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), lupus erythematosus (LE), and liver damage. Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) is an important multifunctional transcription factor in cells and plays a central regulatory role in cellular defense mechanisms. In recent years, several studies have found a strong association between the activation of Nrf2 and the fight against inflammation-related diseases. A number of small molecule compounds targeting Nrf2 have entered clinical research. This article reviews the research status of small molecule compounds that are in clinical trials for the treatment of COVID-19, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, lupus erythematosus, and liver injury.
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18
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Alexander JF, Mahalingam R, Seua AV, Wu S, Arroyo LD, Hörbelt T, Schedlowski M, Blanco E, Kavelaars A, Heijnen CJ. Targeting the Meningeal Compartment to Resolve Chemobrain and Neuropathy via Nasal Delivery of Functionalized Mitochondria. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2102153. [PMID: 35007407 PMCID: PMC9803615 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202102153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive deficits (chemobrain) and peripheral neuropathy occur in ∼75% of patients treated for cancer with chemotherapy and persist long-term in >30% of survivors. Without preventive or curative interventions and with increasing survivorship rates, the population debilitated by these neurotoxicities is rising. Platinum-based chemotherapeutics, including cisplatin, induce neuronal mitochondrial defects leading to chemobrain and neuropathic pain. This study investigates the capacity of nasally administered mesenchymal stem cell-derived mitochondria coated with dextran-triphenylphosphonium polymer (coated mitochondria) to reverse these neurotoxicities. Nasally administered coated mitochondria are rapidly detectable in macrophages in the brain meninges but do not reach the brain parenchyma. The coated mitochondria change expression of >2400 genes regulating immune, neuronal, endocrine and vascular pathways in the meninges of mice treated with cisplatin. Nasal administration of coated mitochondria reverses cisplatin-induced cognitive deficits and resolves neuropathic pain at a >55-times lower dose compared to uncoated mitochondria. Reversal of these neuropathologies is associated with resolution of cisplatin-induced deficits in myelination, synaptosomal mitochondrial integrity and neurogenesis. These findings demonstrate that nasally administered coated mitochondria promote resolution of chemobrain and peripheral neuropathy, thereby identifying a novel facile strategy for clinical application of mitochondrial donation and treating central and peripheral nervous system pathologies by targeting the brain meninges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenolyn F. Alexander
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd., Houston, Texas, 77030, United States,Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, D-45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Rajasekaran Mahalingam
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd., Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
| | - Alexandre V. Seua
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd., Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
| | - Suhong Wu
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
| | - Luis D. Arroyo
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd., Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
| | - Tina Hörbelt
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, D-45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Manfred Schedlowski
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, D-45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Elvin Blanco
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
| | - Annemieke Kavelaars
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd., Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
| | - Cobi J. Heijnen
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd., Houston, Texas, 77030, United States,Corresponding Author
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19
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Effects of heme oxygenase 1 in the molecular changes and neuropathy associated with type 2 diabetes in mice. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 199:114987. [PMID: 35276215 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.114987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Painful diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes in humans. The current treatments are not completely effective, and the main mechanisms implicated in the development of diabetic neuropathy are not completely elucidated. Thus, in male db/db mice, a murine model of type 2 diabetes, we investigated the effects of treatment with a heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) inducer, cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPP), on the 1) hyperglycemia and mechanical allodynia associated with type 2 diabetes and 2) molecular changes induced by diabetic neuropathy in the central nervous system (CNS). Thus, we evaluated the effects of CoPP on the protein levels of 4-HNE (oxidative stress), Nrf2, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), HO-1, glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) (antioxidant enzymes), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (nociceptive pathway), CD11b/c (microglial activation), and BAX (apoptosis) in the amygdala and spinal cord of db/db mice. Our results showed the antihyperglycemic and antiallodynic effects of CoPP treatment as well as the potent antioxidant, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties of this HO-1 inducer in the CNS of type 2 diabetic mice. Treatment with CoPP also prevented the downregulation of several antioxidant proteins (Nrf2, SOD-1, and NQO1) and/or enhanced the protein levels of HO-1 and GSTM1 in the spinal cord and/or amygdala of db/db mice. These effects might be implicated in the antiallodynic actions of CoPP. Our findings revealed the modulatory effects of CoPP in the CNS of db/db mice and provide new prospects for novel type 2 diabetes-associated neuropathy therapies.
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20
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The Effects of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2 (NFE2)-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) Activation in Preclinical Models of Peripheral Neuropathic Pain. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11020430. [PMID: 35204312 PMCID: PMC8869199 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11020430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress, resulting from an imbalance between the formation of damaging free radicals and availability of protective antioxidants, can contribute to peripheral neuropathic pain conditions. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, as well as products of the mitochondrial metabolism such as superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals, are common free radicals. Nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NFE2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor encoded by the NFE2L2 gene and is a member of the cap 'n' collar subfamily of basic region leucine zipper transcription factors. Under normal physiological conditions, Nrf2 remains bound to Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 in the cytoplasm that ultimately leads to proteasomal degradation. During peripheral neuropathy, Nrf2 can translocate to the nucleus, where it heterodimerizes with muscle aponeurosis fibromatosis proteins and binds to antioxidant response elements (AREs). It is becoming increasingly clear that the Nrf2 interaction with ARE leads to the transcription of several antioxidative enzymes that can ameliorate neuropathy and neuropathic pain in rodent models. Current evidence indicates that the antinociceptive effects of Nrf2 occur via reducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Here, we will summarize the preclinical evidence supporting the role of Nrf2 signaling pathways and Nrf2 inducers in alleviating peripheral neuropathic pain.
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Mela V, Sayd Gaban A, O’Neill E, Bechet S, Walsh A, Lynch MA. The Modulatory Effects of DMF on Microglia in Aged Mice Are Sex-Specific. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040729. [PMID: 35203379 PMCID: PMC8870377 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a striking sex-related difference in the prevalence of many neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting the need to consider whether treatments may exert sex-specific effects. A change in microglial activation state is a common feature of several neurodegenerative diseases and is considered to be a key factor in driving the inflammation that characterizes these conditions. Among the changes that have been described is a switch in microglial metabolism towards glycolysis which is associated with production of inflammatory mediators and reduced function. Marked sex-related differences in microglial number, phenotype and function have been described in late embryonic and early postnatal life in rodents and some reports suggest that sexual dimorphism extends into adulthood and age and, in models of Alzheimer’s disease, the changes are more profound in microglia from female, compared with male, mice. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is a fumaric acid ester used in the treatment of psoriasis and relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis and, while its mechanism of action is unclear, it possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties and also impacts on cell metabolism. Here we treated 16–18-month-old female and male mice with DMF for 1 month and assessed its effect on microglia. The evidence indicates that it exerted sex-specific effects on microglial morphology and metabolism, reducing glycolysis only in microglia from female mice. The data suggest that this may result from its ability to inactivate glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH).
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Mela
- Department of Medicine and Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaga, 29010 Malaga, Spain;
| | - Aline Sayd Gaban
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, D02 DK07 Dublin, Ireland; (A.S.G.); (E.O.); (S.B.); (A.W.)
| | - Eoin O’Neill
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, D02 DK07 Dublin, Ireland; (A.S.G.); (E.O.); (S.B.); (A.W.)
| | - Sibylle Bechet
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, D02 DK07 Dublin, Ireland; (A.S.G.); (E.O.); (S.B.); (A.W.)
| | - Aífe Walsh
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, D02 DK07 Dublin, Ireland; (A.S.G.); (E.O.); (S.B.); (A.W.)
| | - Marina A. Lynch
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, D02 DK07 Dublin, Ireland; (A.S.G.); (E.O.); (S.B.); (A.W.)
- Correspondence:
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22
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Squillace S, Salvemini D. Nitroxidative stress in pain and opioid-induced adverse effects: therapeutic opportunities. Pain 2022; 163:205-213. [PMID: 34145168 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Squillace
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Henry and Amelia Nasrallah Center for Neuroscience, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
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Li J, Stratton HJ, Lorca SA, Grace PM, Khanna R. Small molecule targeting NaV1.7 via inhibition of the CRMP2-Ubc9 interaction reduces pain in chronic constriction injury (CCI) rats. Channels (Austin) 2022; 16:1-8. [PMID: 34983286 PMCID: PMC8741281 DOI: 10.1080/19336950.2021.2023383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The voltage-gated sodium channel isoform NaV1.7 is a critical player in the transmission of nociceptive information. This channel has been heavily implicated in human genetic pain disorders and is a validated pain target. However, targeting this channel directly has failed, and an indirect approach – disruption of interactions with accessory protein partners – has emerged as a viable alternative strategy. We recently reported that a small-molecule inhibitor of CRMP2 SUMOylation, compound 194, selectively reduces NaV1.7 currents in DRG neurons across species from mouse to human. This compound also reversed mechanical allodynia in a spared nerve injury and chemotherapy-induced model of neuropathic pain. Here, we show that oral administration of 194 reverses mechanical allodynia in a chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain. Furthermore, we show that orally administered 194 reverses the increased latency to cross an aversive barrier in a mechanical conflict-avoidance task following CCI. These two findings, in the context of our previous report, support the conclusion that 194 is a robust inhibitor of NaV1.7 function with the ultimate effect of profoundly ameliorating mechanical allodynia associated with nerve injury. The fact that this was observed using both traditional, evoked measures of pain behavior as well as the more recently developed operator-independent mechanical conflict-avoidance assay increases confidence in the efficacy of 194-induced anti-nociception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahe Li
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Harrison J Stratton
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Sabina A Lorca
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Peter M Grace
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.,Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Tmem160 contributes to the establishment of discrete nerve injury-induced pain behaviors in male mice. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110152. [PMID: 34936870 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is a prevalent medical problem, and its molecular basis remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate the significance of the transmembrane protein (Tmem) 160 for nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. An extensive behavioral assessment suggests a pain modality- and entity-specific phenotype in male Tmem160 global knockout (KO) mice: delayed establishment of tactile hypersensitivity and alterations in self-grooming after nerve injury. In contrast, Tmem160 seems to be dispensable for other nerve injury-induced pain modalities, such as non-evoked and movement-evoked pain, and for other pain entities. Mechanistically, we show that global KO males exhibit dampened neuroimmune signaling and diminished TRPA1-mediated activity in cultured dorsal root ganglia. Neither these changes nor altered pain-related behaviors are observed in global KO female and male peripheral sensory neuron-specific KO mice. Our findings reveal Tmem160 as a sexually dimorphic factor contributing to the establishment, but not maintenance, of discrete nerve injury-induced pain behaviors in male mice.
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25
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Sun J, Li JY, Zhang LQ, Li DY, Wu JY, Gao SJ, Liu DQ, Zhou YQ, Mei W. Nrf2 Activation Attenuates Chronic Constriction Injury-Induced Neuropathic Pain via Induction of PGC-1 α-Mediated Mitochondrial Biogenesis in the Spinal Cord. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:9577874. [PMID: 34721761 PMCID: PMC8554522 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9577874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuropathic pain is a debilitating disease with few effective treatments. Emerging evidence indicates the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in neuropathic pain. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a potent regulator of the antioxidant response system. In this study, we investigated whether RTA-408 (RTA, a novel synthetic triterpenoid under clinical investigation) could activate Nrf2 and promote mitochondrial biogenesis (MB) to reverse neuropathic pain and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS Neuropathic pain was induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. Pain behaviors were measured via the von Frey test and Hargreaves plantar test. The L4-6 spinal cord was collected to examine the activation of Nrf2 and MB. RESULTS RTA-408 treatment significantly reversed mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in CCI mice in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, RTA-408 increased the activity of Nrf2 and significantly restored MB that was impaired in CCI mice in an Nrf2-dependent manner. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α) is the key regulator of MB. We found that the PGC-1α activator also induced a potent analgesic effect in CCI mice. Moreover, the antinociceptive effect of RTA-408 was reversed by the preinjection of the PGC-1α inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS Nrf2 activation attenuates chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain via induction of PGC-1α-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis in the spinal cord. Our results indicate that Nrf2 may be a potential therapeutic strategy to ameliorate neuropathic pain and many other disorders with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Sun
- Anesthesiology Institute, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia-Yan Li
- Anesthesiology Institute, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Long-Qing Zhang
- Anesthesiology Institute, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dan-Yang Li
- Anesthesiology Institute, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia-Yi Wu
- Anesthesiology Institute, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shao-Jie Gao
- Anesthesiology Institute, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dai-Qiang Liu
- Anesthesiology Institute, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ya-Qun Zhou
- Anesthesiology Institute, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Mei
- Anesthesiology Institute, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Inyang KE, Folger JK, Laumet G. Can FDA-Approved Immunomodulatory Drugs be Repurposed/Repositioned to Alleviate Chronic Pain? J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2021; 16:531-547. [PMID: 34041656 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-021-10000-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pain is among the most widespread chronic health condition confronting society today and our inability to manage chronic pain contributes to the opioid abuse epidemic in America. The immune system is known to contribute to acute and chronic pain, but only limited therapeutic treatments such as non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs have resulted from this knowledge. The last decade has shed light on neuro-immune interactions mediating the development, maintenance, and resolution of chronic pain. Here, we do not aim to perform a comprehensive review of all immune mechanisms involved in chronic pain, but to briefly review the contribution of the main cytokines and immune cells (macrophages, microglia, mast cells and T cells) to chronic pain. Given the urgent need to address the Pain crisis, we provocatively propose to repurpose/reposition FDA-approved immunomodulatory drugs for their potential to alleviate chronic pain. Repositioning or repurposing offers an attractive way to accelerate the arrival of new analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph K Folger
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Geoffroy Laumet
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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Lal R, Dhaliwal J, Dhaliwal N, Dharavath RN, Chopra K. Activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway by dimethyl fumarate ameliorates complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 899:174044. [PMID: 33745959 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) signaling pathway has recently emerged as a novel therapeutic target in treating various diseases. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the protective role of the Nrf2 activator, dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)- induced arthritis model. DMF (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) were orally administered for 14 days. Pain-related tests, paw volume, and arthritic scores were measured weekly. Serum TNF-α, IL-1β, cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and rheumatoid factor (RF) levels were estimated. Nitrite, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were also evaluated. NF-κB, Nrf2, HO-1, and COX-2 levels were estimated in the joint tissue. DMF treatment exerted anti-arthritic activity by enhancing the nociceptive threshold, improving arthritis scores, and reducing paw edema. Also, DMF suppressed changes in oxidative stress markers and inflammatory mediators and enhanced Nrf2 and HO-1 levels in CFA-injected rats. These findings indicate that the anti-arthritic activity of DMF may be mediated by the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, which reduced oxidative damage and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshan Lal
- Pharmacology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Jatinder Dhaliwal
- Pharmacology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Navneet Dhaliwal
- Pharmacology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Ravinder Naik Dharavath
- Pharmacology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Kanwaljit Chopra
- Pharmacology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
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Guo TZ, Shi X, Li W, Wei T, Kingery WS, Clark JD. Dimethyl Fumarate Reduces Oxidative Stress and Pronociceptive Immune Responses in a Murine Model of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Anesth Analg 2021; 132:1475-1485. [PMID: 33646995 PMCID: PMC8049952 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000005440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a highly disabling cause of pain often precipitated by surgery or trauma to a limb. Both innate and adaptive immunological changes contribute to this syndrome. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) works through the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcription factor and other targets to activate antioxidant systems and to suppress immune system activation. We hypothesized that DMF would reduce nociceptive, functional, and immunological changes measured in a model of CRPS. METHODS Male C57BL/6 mice were used in the well-characterized tibial fracture model of CRPS. Some groups of mice received DMF 25 mg/kg/d orally, per os for 3 weeks after fracture versus vehicle alone. Homozygous Nrf2 null mutant mice were used as test subjects to address the need for this transcription factor for DMF activity. Allodynia was assessed using von Frey filaments and hindlimb weight-bearing data were collected. The markers of oxidative stress malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) were quantified in the skin of the fractured mice using immunoassays along with the innate immune system cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. The accumulation of IgM in the fractured limbs and lymph node hypertrophy were used as indexes of adaptive immune system activation, and the passive transfer of serum from wildtype fractured mice to B cell-deficient fractured muMT mice (mice lacking B cells and immunoglobulin) helped to assess the pronociceptive activity of humoral factors. RESULTS We observed that oral DMF administration strongly prevented nociceptive sensitization and reduced uneven hindlimb weight bearing after fracture. DMF was also very effective in reducing the accumulation of markers of oxidative stress, activation of innate immune mediator production, lymph node hypertrophy, and the accumulation of IgM in fractured limbs. The sera of fractured vehicle-treated but not DMF-treated mice conferred pronociceptive activity to recipient mice. Unexpectedly, the effects of DMF were largely unchanged in the Nrf2 null mutant mice. CONCLUSIONS Oxidative stress and immune system activation are robust after hindlimb fracture in mice. DMF strongly reduces activation of those systems, and the Nrf2 transcription factor is not required. DMF or drugs working through similar mechanisms might provide effective therapy for CRPS or other conditions where oxidative stress causes immune system activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-zhi Guo
- Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Xiaoyou Shi
- Anesthesiology Service, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System Palo Alto, CA, United States
- Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Wenwu Li
- Anesthesiology Service, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System Palo Alto, CA, United States
- Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Tzuping Wei
- Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Wade S. Kingery
- Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - J. David Clark
- Anesthesiology Service, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System Palo Alto, CA, United States
- Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
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Zhou YQ, Mei W, Tian XB, Tian YK, Liu DQ, Ye DW. The therapeutic potential of Nrf2 inducers in chronic pain: Evidence from preclinical studies. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 225:107846. [PMID: 33819559 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain remains an enormous health problem affecting approximatively 30% of the world's population. Opioids as the first line analgesics often leads to undesirable side effects when used long term. Therefore, novel therapeutic targets are urgently needed to the development of more efficacious analgesics. Substantial evidence indicates that excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) are extremely important to the development of chronic pain. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a master transcription factor regulating endogenous antioxidant defense. Emerging evidence suggests that Nrf2 and its downstream effectors are implicated in chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Notably, controversial results have been reported regarding the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream targets in peripheral and central regions involved in pain transmission. However, our recent studies and results from other laboratories demonstrate that Nrf2 inducers exert potent analgesic effects in various murine models of chronic pain. In this review, we summarized and discussed the preclinical evidence demonstrating the therapeutic potential of Nrf2 inducers in chronic pain. These evidence indicates that Nrf2 activation are beneficial in chronic pain mostly by alleviating ROS-associated pathological processes. Overall, Nrf2-based therapy for chronic pain is an area with great promise, but more research regarding its detailed mechanisms is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Qun Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Wei Mei
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xue-Bi Tian
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yu-Ke Tian
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Dai-Qiang Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Da-Wei Ye
- Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University; Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030032, China; Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Hoogendoorn A, Avery TD, Li J, Bursill C, Abell A, Grace PM. Emerging Therapeutic Applications for Fumarates. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 42:239-254. [PMID: 33618840 PMCID: PMC7954891 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Fumarates are successfully used for the treatment of psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. Their antioxidative, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective properties make fumarates attractive therapeutic candidates for other pathologies. The exact working mechanisms of fumarates are, however, not fully understood. Further elucidation of the mechanisms is required if these drugs are to be successfully repurposed for other diseases. Towards this, administration route, dosage, and treatment timing, frequency, and duration are important parameters to consider and optimize with clinical paradigms in mind. Here, we summarize the rapidly expanding literature on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of fumarates, including a discussion on two recently FDA-approved fumarates VumerityTM and BafiertamTM. We review emerging applications of fumarates, focusing on neurological and cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayla Hoogendoorn
- Vascular and Heart Health, Life Long Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics, The University of Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Thomas D Avery
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics, The University of Adelaide, Australia; Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing & Department of Chemistry, The University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - Jiahe Li
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Christina Bursill
- Vascular and Heart Health, Life Long Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics, The University of Adelaide, Australia; Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Andrew Abell
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics, The University of Adelaide, Australia; Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing & Department of Chemistry, The University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - Peter M Grace
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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Lacagnina MJ, Li J, Lorca S, Rice KC, Sullivan K, O’Callaghan JP, Grace PM. A role for neuroimmune signaling in a rat model of Gulf War Illness-related pain. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 91:418-428. [PMID: 33127584 PMCID: PMC7749855 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
More than a quarter of veterans of the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War suffer from Gulf War Illness (GWI), a chronic, multi-symptom illness that commonly includes musculoskeletal pain. Exposure to a range of toxic chemicals, including sarin nerve agent, are a suspected root cause of GWI. Moreover, such chemical exposures induce a neuroinflammatory response in rodents, which has been linked to several GWI symptoms in rodents and veterans with GWI. To date, a neuroinflammatory basis for pain associated with GWI has not been investigated. Here, we evaluated development of nociceptive hypersensitivity in a model of GWI. Male Sprague Dawley rats were treated with corticosterone in the drinking water for 7 days, to mimic high physiological stress, followed by a single injection of the sarin nerve agent surrogate, diisopropyl fluorophosphate. These exposures alone were insufficient to induce allodynia. However, an additional sub-threshold challenge (a single intramuscular injection of pH 4 saline) induced long-lasting, bilateral allodynia. Such allodynia was associated with elevation of markers for activated microglia/macrophages (CD11b) and astrocytes/satellite glia (GFAP) in the lumbar dorsal spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Additionally, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA was elevated in the lumbar dorsal spinal cord, while IL-1β and IL-6 were elevated in the lumbar dorsal spinal cord, DRG, and gastrocnemius muscle. Demonstrating a casual role for such neuroinflammatory signaling, allodynia was reversed by treatment with either minocycline, the TLR4 inhibitor (+)-naltrexone, or IL-10 plasmid DNA. Together, these results point to a role for neuroinflammation in male rats in the model of musculoskeletal pain related to GWI. Therapies that alleviate persistent immune dysregulation may be a strategy to treat pain and other symptoms of GWI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Lacagnina
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jiahe Li
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sabina Lorca
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kenner C. Rice
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kimberly Sullivan
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James P. O’Callaghan
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Peter M. Grace
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Corresponding author: Peter M. Grace, PhD, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd, Houston TX, 77030, T: 713-792-6673,
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The Neuroimmunology of Chronic Pain: From Rodents to Humans. J Neurosci 2020; 41:855-865. [PMID: 33239404 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1650-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain, encompassing conditions, such as low back pain, arthritis, persistent post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain disorders, is highly prevalent but remains poorly treated. The vast majority of therapeutics are directed solely at neurons, despite the fact that signaling between immune cells, glia, and neurons is now recognized as indispensable for the initiation and maintenance of chronic pain. This review highlights recent advances in understanding fundamental neuroimmune signaling mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets in rodent models of chronic pain. We further discuss new technological developments to study, diagnose, and quantify neuroimmune contributions to chronic pain in patient populations.
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Pol O. The role of carbon monoxide, heme oxygenase 1, and the Nrf2 transcription factor in the modulation of chronic pain and their interactions with opioids and cannabinoids. Med Res Rev 2020; 41:136-155. [PMID: 32820550 DOI: 10.1002/med.21726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chronic pain and its associated comorbidities are difficult to treat, even when the most potent analgesic compounds are used. Thus, research on new strategies to effectively relieve nociceptive and/or emotional disorders accompanying chronic pain is essential. Several studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of different carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CO-RMs), inducible heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and nuclear factor-2 erythroid factor-2 (Nrf2) transcription factor activators in several models of acute and chronic pain caused by inflammation, nerve injury or diabetes. More recently, the antidepressant and/or anxiolytic effects of several Nrf2 transcription factor inducers were demonstrated in a model of chronic neuropathic pain. These effects are mainly produced by inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation, glial activation, mitogen-activated protein kinases and/or phosphoinositide 3-kinase/phospho-protein kinase B phosphorylation in the peripheral and/or central nervous system. Other studies also demonstrated that the analgesic effects of opioids and cannabinoids are improved when these drugs are coadministered with CO-RMs, HO-1 or Nrf2 activators in different preclinical pain models and that these improvements are generally mediated by upregulation or prevention of the downregulation of µ-opioid receptors, δ-opioid receptors and/or cannabinoid 2 receptors in the setting of chronic pain. We reviewed all these studies as well as studies on the mechanisms of action underlying the effects of CO-RMs, HO-1, and Nrf2 activators in chronic pain. In summary, activation of the Nrf2/HO-1/carbon monoxide signaling pathway alone and/or in combination with the administration of specific analgesics is a valid strategy for the treatment of chronic pain and some associated emotional disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Pol
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Tobore TO. Oxidative/Nitroxidative Stress and Multiple Sclerosis. J Mol Neurosci 2020; 71:506-514. [PMID: 32767188 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-020-01672-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a multifactorial, central nervous system, immune-mediated disease characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. Evidence suggests a steady rise in MS prevalence over the past five decades in the United States and around the world. Even with increased understanding of immunology, the specific etiological trigger of MS remains unknown. Evidence suggests that oxidative/nitroxidative stress is an important contributor to MS etiology, progression, and clinical symptoms. A multifaceted treatment approach aimed at counteracting oxidative/nitroxidative stress including MS disease-modifying medications, Mediterranean style diet, stress-relieving activities, smoking and alcohol cessation, exercise, and peer support programs is the best way to treat the disease.
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Kuang Y, Zhang Y, Xiao Z, Xu L, Wang P, Ma Q. Protective effect of dimethyl fumarate on oxidative damage and signaling in cardiomyocytes. Mol Med Rep 2020; 22:2783-2790. [PMID: 32945364 PMCID: PMC7453509 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. Based on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has been reported to exert protective effects against I/R. However, to the best of our knowledge, its potential role as a myocardial protective agent in heart disease has received little attention. Previous studies have suggested that DMF may exert its protective effects by activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2); however, the exact underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective role of DMF in myocardial I/R injury, and to determine the role of Nrf2 in mediating the activity of DMF. H9c2 cells were incubated with DMF (20 µM) for 24 h before establishing the I/R model, and were then subjected to myocardial ischemia for 6 h, followed by reperfusion. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase levels, anti-oxidant enzyme expression levels and anti-apoptotic effects were evaluated, and AKT/Nrf2 pathway-associated mechanisms were investigated. The results of the present study indicated that DMF may reduce myocardial I/R injury in a Nrf2-dependent manner. DMF significantly improved cellular viability, suppressed the expression of apoptotic markers, decreased the production of reactive oxygen species and increased the expression of Nrf2-regulated antioxidative genes. Notably, these beneficial DMF-mediated effects were not observed in the control or I/R groups. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that DMF may exert protective effects against a myocardial I/R model, and further validated Nrf2 modulation as a primary mode of action. Thus suggesting that DMF may be a potential therapeutic agent for AKT/Nrf2 pathway activation in myocardial, and potentially systemic, diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Kuang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Yinzhuang Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, Hunan 410005, P.R. China
| | - Zhen Xiao
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Lijun Xu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Qilin Ma
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
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