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Kellner S, Berlin S. Rescuing tri-heteromeric NMDA receptor function: the potential of pregnenolone-sulfate in loss-of-function GRIN2B variants. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:235. [PMID: 38795169 PMCID: PMC11127902 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05243-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024]
Abstract
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs emerging from GRIN genes) are tetrameric receptors that form diverse channel compositions in neurons, typically consisting of two GluN1 subunits combined with two GluN2(A-D) subunits. During prenatal stages, the predominant channels are di-heteromers with two GluN1 and two GluN2B subunits due to the high abundance of GluN2B subunits. Postnatally, the expression of GluN2A subunits increases, giving rise to additional subtypes, including GluN2A-containing di-heteromers and tri-heteromers with GluN1, GluN2A, and GluN2B subunits. The latter emerge as the major receptor subtype at mature synapses in the hippocampus. Despite extensive research on purely di-heteromeric receptors containing two identical GRIN variants, the impact of a single variant on the function of other channel forms, notably tri-heteromers, is lagging. In this study, we systematically investigated the effects of two de novo GRIN2B variants (G689C and G689S) in pure, mixed di- and tri-heteromers. Our findings reveal that incorporating a single variant in mixed di-heteromers or tri-heteromers exerts a dominant negative effect on glutamate potency, although 'mixed' channels show improved potency compared to pure variant-containing di-heteromers. We show that a single variant within a receptor complex does not impair the response of all receptor subtypes to the positive allosteric modulator pregnenolone-sulfate (PS), whereas spermine completely fails to potentiate tri-heteromers containing GluN2A and -2B-subunits. We examined PS on primary cultured hippocampal neurons transfected with the variants, and observed a positive impact over current amplitudes and synaptic activity. Together, our study supports previous observations showing that mixed di-heteromers exhibit improved glutamate potency and extend these findings towards the exploration of the effect of Loss-of-Function variants over tri-heteromers. Notably, we provide an initial and crucial demonstration of the beneficial effects of GRIN2B-relevant potentiators on tri-heteromers. Our results underscore the significance of studying how different variants affect distinct receptor subtypes, as these effects cannot be inferred solely from observations made on pure di-heteromers. Overall, this study contributes to ongoing efforts to understand the pathophysiology of GRINopathies and provides insights into potential treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shai Kellner
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 1 Efron Bat Galim, Haifa, 3525433, Israel
| | - Shai Berlin
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 1 Efron Bat Galim, Haifa, 3525433, Israel.
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2
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Kysilov B, Kuchtiak V, Hrcka Krausova B, Balik A, Korinek M, Fili K, Dobrovolski M, Abramova V, Chodounska H, Kudova E, Bozikova P, Cerny J, Smejkalova T, Vyklicky L. Disease-associated nonsense and frame-shift variants resulting in the truncation of the GluN2A or GluN2B C-terminal domain decrease NMDAR surface expression and reduce potentiating effects of neurosteroids. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:36. [PMID: 38214768 PMCID: PMC10786987 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05062-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) play a critical role in normal brain function, and variants in genes encoding NMDAR subunits have been described in individuals with various neuropsychiatric disorders. We have used whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, fluorescence microscopy and in-silico modeling to explore the functional consequences of disease-associated nonsense and frame-shift variants resulting in the truncation of GluN2A or GluN2B C-terminal domain (CTD). This study characterizes variant NMDARs and shows their reduced surface expression and synaptic localization, altered agonist affinity, increased desensitization, and reduced probability of channel opening. We also show that naturally occurring and synthetic steroids pregnenolone sulfate and epipregnanolone butanoic acid, respectively, enhance NMDAR function in a way that is dependent on the length of the truncated CTD and, further, is steroid-specific, GluN2A/B subunit-specific, and GluN1 splice variant-specific. Adding to the previously described effects of disease-associated NMDAR variants on the receptor biogenesis and function, our results improve the understanding of the molecular consequences of NMDAR CTD truncations and provide an opportunity for the development of new therapeutic neurosteroid-based ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohdan Kysilov
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14200, Prague 4, Czech Republic
- Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, 100 Nicolls Road, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Viktor Kuchtiak
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14200, Prague 4, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 2038, 12800, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Hrcka Krausova
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14200, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Ales Balik
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14200, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Miloslav Korinek
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14200, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Klevinda Fili
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14200, Prague 4, Czech Republic
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruska 87, 10000, Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Mark Dobrovolski
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14200, Prague 4, Czech Republic
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruska 87, 10000, Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Vera Abramova
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14200, Prague 4, Czech Republic
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruska 87, 10000, Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Chodounska
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Nam. 2, 16610, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Kudova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Nam. 2, 16610, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Paulina Bozikova
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Prumyslova 595, 25250, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Cerny
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14200, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Smejkalova
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14200, Prague 4, Czech Republic.
| | - Ladislav Vyklicky
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14200, Prague 4, Czech Republic.
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3
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Mony L, Paoletti P. Mechanisms of NMDA receptor regulation. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 83:102815. [PMID: 37988826 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102815] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are glutamate-gated ion channels widely expressed in the central nervous system that play key role in brain development and plasticity. On the downside, NMDAR dysfunction, be it hyperactivity or hypofunction, is harmful to neuronal function and has emerged as a common theme in various neuropsychiatric disorders including autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, intellectual disability, and schizophrenia. Not surprisingly, NMDAR signaling is under a complex set of regulatory mechanisms that maintain NMDAR-mediated transmission in check. These include an unusual large number of endogenous agents that directly bind NMDARs and tune their activity in a subunit-dependent manner. Here, we review current knowledge on the regulation of NMDAR signaling. We focus on the regulation of the receptor by its microenvironment as well as by external (i.e. pharmacological) factors and their underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms. Recent developments showing how NMDAR dysregulation participate to disease mechanisms are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Mony
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, CNRS, INSERM, F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Pierre Paoletti
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, CNRS, INSERM, F-75005 Paris, France.
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4
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Abramova V, Leal Alvarado V, Hill M, Smejkalova T, Maly M, Vales K, Dittert I, Bozikova P, Kysilov B, Hrcka Krausova B, Vyklicky V, Balik A, Fili K, Korinek M, Chodounska H, Kudova E, Ciz D, Martinovic J, Cerny J, Bartunek P, Vyklicky L. Effects of Pregnanolone Glutamate and Its Metabolites on GABA A and NMDA Receptors and Zebrafish Behavior. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:1870-1883. [PMID: 37126803 PMCID: PMC10198160 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple molecular targets have been identified to mediate membrane-delimited and nongenomic effects of natural and synthetic steroids, but the influence of steroid metabolism on neuroactive steroid signaling is not well understood. To begin to address this question, we set out to identify major metabolites of a neuroprotective synthetic steroid 20-oxo-5β-pregnan-3α-yl l-glutamyl 1-ester (pregnanolone glutamate, PAG) and characterize their effects on GABAA and NMDA receptors (GABARs, NMDARs) and their influence on zebrafish behavior. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to assess concentrations of PAG and its metabolites in the hippocampal tissue of juvenile rats following intraperitoneal PAG injection. PAG is metabolized in the peripheral organs and nervous tissue to 20-oxo-17α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-3α-yl l-glutamyl 1-ester (17-hydroxypregnanolone glutamate, 17-OH-PAG), 3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one (pregnanolone, PA), and 3α,17α-dihydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one (17-hydroxypregnanolone, 17-OH-PA). Patch-clamp electrophysiology experiments in cultured hippocampal neurons demonstrate that PA and 17-OH-PA are potent positive modulators of GABARs, while PAG and 17-OH-PA have a moderate inhibitory effect at NMDARs. PAG, 17-OH-PA, and PA diminished the locomotor activity of zebrafish larvae in a dose-dependent manner. Our results show that PAG and its metabolites are potent modulators of neurotransmitter receptors with behavioral consequences and indicate that neurosteroid-based ligands may have therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Abramova
- Laboratory
of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of
Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
- Charles
University, Third Faculty of Medicine, Ruska 87, 100 00 Prague 10,Czech Republic
| | - Vanessa Leal Alvarado
- Laboratory
of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of
Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Hill
- Institute
of Endocrinology, Narodni
8, 116 94 Prague
1, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Smejkalova
- Laboratory
of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of
Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Maly
- Laboratory
of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of
Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Vales
- Institute
of Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
- National
Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Dittert
- Laboratory
of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of
Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Paulina Bozikova
- Institute
of Biotechnology CAS, Prumyslova 595, 252 50 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Bohdan Kysilov
- Laboratory
of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of
Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Hrcka Krausova
- Laboratory
of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of
Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Vyklicky
- Laboratory
of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of
Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Ales Balik
- Laboratory
of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of
Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Klevinda Fili
- Laboratory
of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of
Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
- Charles
University, Third Faculty of Medicine, Ruska 87, 100 00 Prague 10,Czech Republic
| | - Miloslav Korinek
- Laboratory
of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of
Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Chodounska
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry CAS, Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Kudova
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry CAS, Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - David Ciz
- IT4Innovations
National Supercomputing Center, Studentska 6231/1B, 708 00 Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Martinovic
- IT4Innovations
National Supercomputing Center, Studentska 6231/1B, 708 00 Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Cerny
- Laboratory
of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of
Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Bartunek
- Institute
of Molecular Genetics CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
- CZ-OPENSCREEN, Institute of
Molecular Genetics CAS, Videnska 1083, 142
20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Ladislav Vyklicky
- Laboratory
of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of
Physiology CAS, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
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5
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Tang W, Beckley JT, Zhang J, Song R, Xu Y, Kim S, Quirk MC, Robichaud AJ, Diaz ES, Myers SJ, Doherty JJ, Ackley MA, Traynelis SF, Yuan H. Novel neuroactive steroids as positive allosteric modulators of NMDA receptors: mechanism, site of action, and rescue pharmacology on GRIN variants associated with neurological conditions. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:42. [PMID: 36645496 PMCID: PMC10644378 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04667-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) play vital roles in normal brain functions (i.e., learning, memory, and neuronal development) and various neuropathological conditions, such as epilepsy, autism, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and traumatic brain injury. Endogenous neuroactive steroids such as 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol (24(S)-HC) have been shown to influence NMDAR activity, and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) derived from 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol scaffold can also enhance NMDAR function. This study describes the structural determinants and mechanism of action for 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol and two novel synthetic analogs (SGE-550 and SGE-301) on NMDAR function. We also show that these agents can mitigate the altered function caused by a set of loss-of-function missense variants in NMDAR GluN subunit-encoding GRIN genes associated with neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. We anticipate that the evaluation of novel neuroactive steroid NMDAR PAMs may catalyze the development of new treatment strategies for GRIN-related neuropsychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiting Tang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | | | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Rui Song
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yuchen Xu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sukhan Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Center for Functional Evaluation of Rare Variants (CFERV), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | | | | | - Eva Sarai Diaz
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Scott J Myers
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Center for Functional Evaluation of Rare Variants (CFERV), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | | | | | - Stephen F Traynelis
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Center for Functional Evaluation of Rare Variants (CFERV), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Hongjie Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Center for Functional Evaluation of Rare Variants (CFERV), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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6
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Liedtke W. Mechanistic contribution of CaV3.2 calcium channels to trigeminal neuralgia pathophysiology not clarified. F1000Res 2022; 11:718. [PMID: 36128556 PMCID: PMC9468618 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.122997.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a rare, yet debilitating trigeminal pain disorder, with jolts of supramaximal-debilitating pain in one or more of the three trigeminal branches. Familial TN is now recognized, with a recent report describing several human genetic polymorphisms. One affected gene is the voltage-gated calcium channel, CaV3.2 (
CACNA1H), with 19 polymorphisms first described. A recent study in PAIN by Gambeta-et-al (DOI:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002651) is entitled "
CaV3.2 calcium channels contribute to trigeminal neuralgia ". Here, I call into question their claim. My main arguments are 1)-3): 1) Gambeta-et-al studied 4/19 mutations reported in heterologous cellular expression, with two mutations showing gain-of-function of CaV3.2, two mutations not showing gain-of-function. Therefore the exemplary picks of familial TN-associated CaV3.2 mutations do not show a uniform change of channel function, such as gain-of-function. 2) In Gambeta-et-al, one gain-of-function mutation, CaV3.2(G563R) was directed to mouse trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons, and their resulting hyperexcitability was demonstrated. A critical control of a non-gain-of-function channel was not included here, it was unclear whether neurons were separated by sex, and human sensory neurons were not used. Importantly, it is not clear that TG neurons are the critical cellular site of CaV3.2 mutations. 3) Gambeta-et-al used CaV3.2-/- pan-null knockout mice. Human TN-associated CaV3.2 mutations were not over-expressed. They used a infraorbital nerve constriction injury and measured facial heat hyperalgesia. CaV3.2-/- show a pain phenotype similar to control, yet are not affected by a CaV3-inhibitory compound, Z944. My argument is that when starting with TN-associated human mutations, use of a trigeminal neuropathic pain model is of limited value, and that human mutations have to be expressed against a mouse null background. Re thermal cue, Gambeta-et-al failed to study cold-evoked pain which is a TN clinical hallmark. Thus, Gambeta-et-al's 2022 PAIN-paper offers little new mechanistic evidence why CaV3.2 polymorphisms are associated with trigeminal neuralgia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Liedtke
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology - Dental Pain Research, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Neurology/ Headache-Pain, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
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