1
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Dongol Y, Wilson DT, Daly NL, Cardoso FC, Lewis RJ. Structure-function and rational design of a spider toxin Ssp1a at human voltage-gated sodium channel subtypes. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1277143. [PMID: 38034993 PMCID: PMC10682951 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1277143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The structure-function and optimization studies of NaV-inhibiting spider toxins have focused on developing selective inhibitors for peripheral pain-sensing NaV1.7. With several NaV subtypes emerging as potential therapeutic targets, structure-function analysis of NaV-inhibiting spider toxins at such subtypes is warranted. Using the recently discovered spider toxin Ssp1a, this study extends the structure-function relationships of NaV-inhibiting spider toxins beyond NaV1.7 to include the epilepsy target NaV1.2 and the pain target NaV1.3. Based on these results and docking studies, we designed analogues for improved potency and/or subtype-selectivity, with S7R-E18K-rSsp1a and N14D-P27R-rSsp1a identified as promising leads. S7R-E18K-rSsp1a increased the rSsp1a potency at these three NaV subtypes, especially at NaV1.3 (∼10-fold), while N14D-P27R-rSsp1a enhanced NaV1.2/1.7 selectivity over NaV1.3. This study highlights the challenge of developing subtype-selective spider toxin inhibitors across multiple NaV subtypes that might offer a more effective therapeutic approach. The findings of this study provide a basis for further rational design of Ssp1a and related NaSpTx1 homologs targeting NaV1.2, NaV1.3 and/or NaV1.7 as research tools and therapeutic leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashad Dongol
- Centre for Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David T. Wilson
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Norelle L. Daly
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Fernanda C. Cardoso
- Centre for Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard J. Lewis
- Centre for Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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2
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Bayrer JR, Castro J, Venkataraman A, Touhara KK, Rossen ND, Morrie RD, Maddern J, Hendry A, Braverman KN, Garcia-Caraballo S, Schober G, Brizuela M, Castro Navarro FM, Bueno-Silva C, Ingraham HA, Brierley SM, Julius D. Gut enterochromaffin cells drive visceral pain and anxiety. Nature 2023; 616:137-142. [PMID: 36949192 PMCID: PMC10827380 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05829-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort is a hallmark of most gut disorders and represents an important component of chronic visceral pain1. For the growing population afflicted by irritable bowel syndrome, GI hypersensitivity and pain persist long after tissue injury has resolved2. Irritable bowel syndrome also exhibits a strong sex bias, afflicting women three times more than men1. Here, we focus on enterochromaffin (EC) cells, which are rare excitable, serotonergic neuroendocrine cells in the gut epithelium3-5. EC cells detect and transduce noxious stimuli to nearby mucosal nerve endings3,6 but involvement of this signalling pathway in visceral pain and attendant sex differences has not been assessed. By enhancing or suppressing EC cell function in vivo, we show that these cells are sufficient to elicit hypersensitivity to gut distension and necessary for the sensitizing actions of isovalerate, a bacterial short-chain fatty acid associated with GI inflammation7,8. Remarkably, prolonged EC cell activation produced persistent visceral hypersensitivity, even in the absence of an instigating inflammatory episode. Furthermore, perturbing EC cell activity promoted anxiety-like behaviours which normalized after blockade of serotonergic signalling. Sex differences were noted across a range of paradigms, indicating that the EC cell-mucosal afferent circuit is tonically engaged in females. Our findings validate a critical role for EC cell-mucosal afferent signalling in acute and persistent GI pain, in addition to highlighting genetic models for studying visceral hypersensitivity and the sex bias of gut pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Bayrer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Joel Castro
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Archana Venkataraman
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kouki K Touhara
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nathan D Rossen
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Tetrad Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ryan D Morrie
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Maze Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Maddern
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Aenea Hendry
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Kristina N Braverman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Jansen, Johnson & Johnson, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sonia Garcia-Caraballo
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Gudrun Schober
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Mariana Brizuela
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Carla Bueno-Silva
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Holly A Ingraham
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Stuart M Brierley
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
| | - David Julius
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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3
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Shin A, Kashyap PC. Multi-omics for biomarker approaches in the diagnostic evaluation and management of abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome: what lies ahead. Gut Microbes 2023; 15:2195792. [PMID: 37009874 PMCID: PMC10072066 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2195792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Reliable biomarkers for common disorders of gut-brain interaction characterized by abdominal pain, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), are critically needed to enhance care and develop individualized therapies. The dynamic and heterogeneous nature of the pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie visceral hypersensitivity have challenged successful biomarker development. Consequently, effective therapies for pain in IBS are lacking. However, recent advances in modern omics technologies offer new opportunities to acquire deep biological insights into mechanisms of pain and nociception. Newer methods for large-scale data integration of complementary omics approaches have further expanded our ability to build a holistic understanding of complex biological networks and their co-contributions to abdominal pain. Here, we review the mechanisms of visceral hypersensitivity, focusing on IBS. We discuss candidate biomarkers for pain in IBS identified through single omics studies and summarize emerging multi-omics approaches for developing novel biomarkers that may transform clinical care for patients with IBS and abdominal pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Shin
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Purna C. Kashyap
- Clinical Enteric Neuroscience Translational and Epidemiological Research Program, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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4
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Castro J, Garcia-Caraballo S, Maddern J, Schober G, Lumsden A, Harrington A, Schmiel S, Lindstrom B, Adams J, Brierley SM. Olorinab (APD371), a peripherally acting, highly selective, full agonist of the cannabinoid receptor 2, reduces colitis-induced acute and chronic visceral hypersensitivity in rodents. Pain 2022; 163:e72-e86. [PMID: 33863856 PMCID: PMC8675055 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Abdominal pain is a key symptom of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, for which there are inadequate therapeutic options. We tested whether olorinab-a highly selective, full agonist of the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2)-reduced visceral hypersensitivity in models of colitis and chronic visceral hypersensitivity (CVH). In rodents, colitis was induced by intrarectal administration of nitrobenzene sulfonic acid derivatives. Control or colitis animals were administered vehicle or olorinab (3 or 30 mg/kg) twice daily by oral gavage for 5 days, starting 1 day before colitis induction. Chronic visceral hypersensitivity mice were administered olorinab (1, 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg) twice daily by oral gavage for 5 days, starting 24 days after colitis induction. Visceral mechanosensitivity was assessed in vivo by quantifying visceromotor responses (VMRs) to colorectal distension. Ex vivo afferent recordings determined colonic nociceptor firing evoked by mechanical stimuli. Colitis and CVH animals displayed significantly elevated VMRs to colorectal distension and colonic nociceptor hypersensitivity. Olorinab treatment significantly reduced VMRs to control levels in colitis and CVH animals. In addition, olorinab reduced nociceptor hypersensitivity in colitis and CVH states in a concentration- and CB2-dependent manner. By contrast, olorinab did not alter VMRs nor nociceptor responsiveness in control animals. Cannabinoid receptor 2 mRNA was detected in colonic tissue, particularly within epithelial cells, and dorsal root ganglia, with no significant differences between healthy, colitis, and CVH states. These results demonstrate that olorinab reduces visceral hypersensitivity through CB2 agonism in animal models, suggesting that olorinab may provide a novel therapy for inflammatory bowel disease- and irritable bowel syndrome-associated abdominal pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Castro
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sonia Garcia-Caraballo
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jessica Maddern
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Gudrun Schober
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Amanda Lumsden
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Andrea Harrington
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Shirdi Schmiel
- Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States
| | | | - John Adams
- Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Stuart M. Brierley
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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5
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Dongol Y, Choi PM, Wilson DT, Daly NL, Cardoso FC, Lewis RJ. Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Modulation by a New Spider Toxin Ssp1a Isolated From an Australian Theraphosid. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:795455. [PMID: 35002728 PMCID: PMC8740163 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.795455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the important role of voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channel-modulating spider toxins in elucidating the function, pharmacology, and mechanism of action of therapeutically relevant NaV channels, we screened the venom from Australian theraphosid species against the human pain target hNaV1.7. Using assay-guided fractionation, we isolated a 33-residue inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) peptide (Ssp1a) belonging to the NaSpTx1 family. Recombinant Ssp1a (rSsp1a) inhibited neuronal hNaV subtypes with a rank order of potency hNaV1.7 > 1.6 > 1.2 > 1.3 > 1.1. rSsp1a inhibited hNaV1.7, hNaV1.2 and hNaV1.3 without significantly altering the voltage-dependence of activation, inactivation, or delay in recovery from inactivation. However, rSsp1a demonstrated voltage-dependent inhibition at hNaV1.7 and rSsp1a-bound hNaV1.7 opened at extreme depolarizations, suggesting rSsp1a likely interacted with voltage-sensing domain II (VSD II) of hNaV1.7 to trap the channel in its resting state. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed key structural features of Ssp1a, including an amphipathic surface with hydrophobic and charged patches shown by docking studies to comprise the interacting surface. This study provides the basis for future structure-function studies to guide the development of subtype selective inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashad Dongol
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Phil M. Choi
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David T. Wilson
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Norelle L. Daly
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Fernanda C. Cardoso
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard J. Lewis
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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6
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Hu H, Mawlawi SE, Zhao T, Deuis JR, Jami S, Vetter I, Lewis RJ, Cardoso FC. Engineering of a Spider Peptide via Conserved Structure-Function Traits Optimizes Sodium Channel Inhibition In Vitro and Anti-Nociception In Vivo. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:742457. [PMID: 34621788 PMCID: PMC8490825 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.742457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Venom peptides are potent and selective modulators of voltage-gated ion channels that regulate neuronal function both in health and in disease. We previously identified the spider venom peptide Tap1a from the Venezuelan tarantula Theraphosa apophysis that targeted multiple voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels in visceral pain pathways and inhibited visceral mechano-sensing neurons contributing to irritable bowel syndrome. In this work, alanine scanning and domain activity analysis revealed Tap1a inhibited sodium channels by binding with nanomolar affinity to the voltage-sensor domain II utilising conserved structure-function features characteristic of spider peptides belonging to family NaSpTx1. In order to speed up the development of optimized NaV-targeting peptides with greater inhibitory potency and enhanced in vivo activity, we tested the hypothesis that incorporating residues identified from other optimized NaSpTx1 peptides into Tap1a could also optimize its potency for NaVs. Applying this approach, we designed the peptides Tap1a-OPT1 and Tap1a-OPT2 exhibiting significant increased potency for NaV1.1, NaV1.2, NaV1.3, NaV1.6 and NaV1.7 involved in several neurological disorders including acute and chronic pain, motor neuron disease and epilepsy. Tap1a-OPT1 showed increased potency for the off-target NaV1.4, while this off-target activity was absent in Tap1a-OPT2. This enhanced potency arose through a slowed off-rate mechanism. Optimized inhibition of NaV channels observed in vitro translated in vivo, with reversal of nocifensive behaviours in a murine model of NaV-mediated pain also enhanced by Tap1a-OPT. Molecular docking studies suggested that improved interactions within loops 3 and 4, and C-terminal of Tap1a-OPT and the NaV channel voltage-sensor domain II were the main drivers of potency optimization. Overall, the rationally designed peptide Tap1a-OPT displayed new and refined structure-function features which are likely the major contributors to its enhanced bioactive properties observed in vivo. This work contributes to the rapid engineering and optimization of potent spider peptides multi-targeting NaV channels, and the research into novel drugs to treat neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Hu
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - S E Mawlawi
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - T Zhao
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - J R Deuis
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - S Jami
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - I Vetter
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - R J Lewis
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - F C Cardoso
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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7
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Jiang Y, Castro J, Blomster LV, Agwa AJ, Maddern J, Schober G, Herzig V, Chow CY, Cardoso FC, Demétrio De Souza França P, Gonzales J, Schroeder CI, Esche S, Reiner T, Brierley SM, King GF. Pharmacological Inhibition of the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Na V1.7 Alleviates Chronic Visceral Pain in a Rodent Model of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2021; 4:1362-1378. [PMID: 34423271 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The human nociceptor-specific voltage-gated sodium channel 1.7 (hNaV1.7) is critical for sensing various types of somatic pain, but it appears not to play a primary role in acute visceral pain. However, its role in chronic visceral pain remains to be determined. We used assay-guided fractionation to isolate a novel hNaV1.7 inhibitor, Tsp1a, from tarantula venom. Tsp1a is 28-residue peptide that potently inhibits hNaV1.7 (IC50 = 10 nM), with greater than 100-fold selectivity over hNaV1.3-hNaV1.6, 45-fold selectivity over hNaV1.1, and 24-fold selectivity over hNaV1.2. Tsp1a is a gating modifier that inhibits NaV1.7 by inducing a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence of channel inactivation and slowing recovery from fast inactivation. NMR studies revealed that Tsp1a adopts a classical knottin fold, and like many knottin peptides, it is exceptionally stable in human serum. Remarkably, intracolonic administration of Tsp1a completely reversed chronic visceral hypersensitivity in a mouse model of irritable bowel syndrome. The ability of Tsp1a to reduce visceral hypersensitivity in a model of irritable bowel syndrome suggests that pharmacological inhibition of hNaV1.7 at peripheral sensory nerve endings might be a viable approach for eliciting analgesia in patients suffering from chronic visceral pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Jiang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Joel Castro
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Linda V Blomster
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Akello J Agwa
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jessica Maddern
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Gudrun Schober
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Volker Herzig
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Chun Yuen Chow
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Fernanda C Cardoso
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Paula Demétrio De Souza França
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001, Brazil
| | - Junior Gonzales
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | | | - Thomas Reiner
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States.,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10021, United States
| | - Stuart M Brierley
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia.,Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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8
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Bucciarelli GM, Lechner M, Fontes A, Kats LB, Eisthen HL, Shaffer HB. From Poison to Promise: The Evolution of Tetrodotoxin and Its Potential as a Therapeutic. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13080517. [PMID: 34437388 PMCID: PMC8402337 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13080517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin that was first identified in pufferfish but has since been isolated from an array of taxa that host TTX-producing bacteria. However, determining its origin, ecosystem roles, and biomedical applications has challenged researchers for decades. Recognized as a poison and for its lethal effects on humans when ingested, TTX is primarily a powerful sodium channel inhibitor that targets voltage-gated sodium channels, including six of the nine mammalian isoforms. Although lethal doses for humans range from 1.5-2.0 mg TTX (blood level 9 ng/mL), when it is administered at levels far below LD50, TTX exhibits therapeutic properties, especially to treat cancer-related pain, neuropathic pain, and visceral pain. Furthermore, TTX can potentially treat a variety of medical ailments, including heroin and cocaine withdrawal symptoms, spinal cord injuries, brain trauma, and some kinds of tumors. Here, we (i) describe the perplexing evolution and ecology of tetrodotoxin, (ii) review its mechanisms and modes of action, and (iii) offer an overview of the numerous ways it may be applied as a therapeutic. There is much to be explored in these three areas, and we offer ideas for future research that combine evolutionary biology with therapeutics. The TTX system holds great promise as a therapeutic and understanding the origin and chemical ecology of TTX as a poison will only improve its general benefit to humanity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary M. Bucciarelli
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology & UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (M.L.); (H.B.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Maren Lechner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology & UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (M.L.); (H.B.S.)
| | - Audrey Fontes
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA 90263, USA; (A.F.); (L.B.K.)
| | - Lee B. Kats
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA 90263, USA; (A.F.); (L.B.K.)
| | - Heather L. Eisthen
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
| | - H. Bradley Shaffer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology & UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (M.L.); (H.B.S.)
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9
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Castro J, Maddern J, Grundy L, Manavis J, Harrington AM, Schober G, Brierley SM. A mouse model of endometriosis that displays vaginal, colon, cutaneous, and bladder sensory comorbidities. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21430. [PMID: 33749885 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202002441r] [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: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Endometriosis is a painful inflammatory disorder affecting ~10% of women of reproductive age. Although chronic pelvic pain (CPP) remains the main symptom of endometriosis patients, adequate treatments for CPP are lacking. Animal models that recapitulate the features and symptoms experienced by women with endometriosis are essential for investigating the etiology of endometriosis, as well as developing new treatments. In this study, we used an autologous mouse model of endometriosis to examine a combination of disease features and symptoms including: a 10 week time course of endometriotic lesion development; the chronic inflammatory environment and development of neuroangiogenesis within lesions; sensory hypersensitivity and altered pain responses to vaginal, colon, bladder, and skin stimulation in conscious animals; and spontaneous animal behavior. We found significant increases in lesion size from week 6 posttransplant. Lesions displayed endometrial glands, stroma, and underwent neuroangiogenesis. Additionally, peritoneal fluid of mice with endometriosis contained known inflammatory mediators and angiogenic factors. Compared to Sham, mice with endometriosis displayed: enhanced sensitivity to pain evoked by (i) vaginal and (ii) colorectal distension, (iii) altered bladder function and increased sensitivity to cutaneous (iv) thermal and (v) mechanical stimuli. The development of endometriosis had no effect on spontaneous behavior. This study describes a comprehensive characterization of a mouse model of endometriosis, recapitulating the clinical features and symptoms experienced by women with endometriosis. Moreover, it delivers the groundwork to investigate the etiology of endometriosis and provides a platform for the development of therapeutical interventions to manage endometriosis-associated CPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Castro
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jessica Maddern
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Luke Grundy
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jim Manavis
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Andrea M Harrington
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Gudrun Schober
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Stuart M Brierley
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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10
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Tetrodotoxin: A New Strategy to Treat Visceral Pain? Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13070496. [PMID: 34357968 PMCID: PMC8310099 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13070496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral pain is one of the most common symptoms associated with functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Although the origin of these symptoms has not been clearly defined, the implication of both the central and peripheral nervous systems in visceral hypersensitivity is well established. The role of several pathways in visceral nociception has been explored, as well as the influence of specific receptors on afferent neurons, such as voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs). VGSCs initiate action potentials and dysfunction of these channels has recently been associated with painful GI conditions. Current treatments for visceral pain generally involve opioid based drugs, which are associated with important side-effects and a loss of effectiveness or tolerance. Hence, efforts have been intensified to find new, more effective and longer-lasting therapies. The implication of VGSCs in visceral hypersensitivity has drawn attention to tetrodotoxin (TTX), a relatively selective sodium channel blocker, as a possible and promising molecule to treat visceral pain and related diseases. As such, here we will review the latest information regarding this toxin that is relevant to the treatment of visceral pain and the possible advantages that it may offer relative to other treatments, alone or in combination.
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11
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Muratspahić E, Tomašević N, Koehbach J, Duerrauer L, Hadžić S, Castro J, Schober G, Sideromenos S, Clark RJ, Brierley SM, Craik DJ, Gruber CW. Design of a Stable Cyclic Peptide Analgesic Derived from Sunflower Seeds that Targets the κ-Opioid Receptor for the Treatment of Chronic Abdominal Pain. J Med Chem 2021; 64:9042-9055. [PMID: 34162205 PMCID: PMC8273886 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The rising opioid crisis has become a worldwide societal and public health burden, resulting from the abuse of prescription opioids. Targeting the κ-opioid receptor (KOR) in the periphery has emerged as a powerful approach to develop novel pain medications without central side effects. Inspired by the traditional use of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) preparations for analgesic purposes, we developed novel stabilized KOR ligands (termed as helianorphins) by incorporating different dynorphin A sequence fragments into a cyclic sunflower peptide scaffold. As a result, helianorphin-19 selectively bound to and fully activated the KOR with nanomolar potency. Importantly, helianorphin-19 exhibited strong KOR-specific peripheral analgesic activity in a mouse model of chronic visceral pain, without inducing unwanted central effects on motor coordination/sedation. Our study provides a proof of principle that cyclic peptides from plants may be used as templates to develop potent and stable peptide analgesics applicable via enteric administration by targeting the peripheral KOR for the treatment of chronic abdominal pain.
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MESH Headings
- Abdominal Pain/drug therapy
- Analgesics/chemical synthesis
- Analgesics/chemistry
- Analgesics/pharmacology
- Animals
- Cells, Cultured
- Chronic Disease
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Design
- HEK293 Cells
- Helianthus/chemistry
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Molecular Structure
- Peptides, Cyclic/chemical synthesis
- Peptides, Cyclic/chemistry
- Peptides, Cyclic/pharmacology
- Plant Extracts/chemical synthesis
- Plant Extracts/chemistry
- Plant Extracts/pharmacology
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/metabolism
- Seeds/chemistry
- Structure-Activity Relationship
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Affiliation(s)
- Edin Muratspahić
- Center
for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nataša Tomašević
- Center
for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes Koehbach
- Institute
for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence
for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Leopold Duerrauer
- Center
for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- School
of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Seid Hadžić
- Center
for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Joel Castro
- Visceral
Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders
Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford
Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
- Hopwood
Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Gudrun Schober
- Visceral
Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders
Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford
Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
- Hopwood
Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Spyridon Sideromenos
- Center for
Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard J. Clark
- School
of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Stuart M. Brierley
- Visceral
Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders
Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford
Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
- Hopwood
Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
- Discipline
of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute
for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence
for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Christian W. Gruber
- Center
for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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12
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Cardoso FC, Castro J, Grundy L, Schober G, Garcia-Caraballo S, Zhao T, Herzig V, King GF, Brierley SM, Lewis RJ. A spider-venom peptide with multitarget activity on sodium and calcium channels alleviates chronic visceral pain in a model of irritable bowel syndrome. Pain 2021; 162:569-581. [PMID: 32826759 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Chronic pain is a serious debilitating condition that affects ∼20% of the world's population. Currently available drugs fail to produce effective pain relief in many patients and have dose-limiting side effects. Several voltage-gated sodium (NaV) and calcium (CaV) channels are implicated in the etiology of chronic pain, particularly NaV1.1, NaV1.3, NaV1.7-NaV1.9, CaV2.2, and CaV3.2. Numerous NaV and CaV modulators have been described, but with few exceptions, they display poor potency and/or selectivity for pain-related channel subtypes. Here, we report the discovery and characterization of 2 novel tarantula-venom peptides (Tap1a and Tap2a) isolated from Theraphosa apophysis venom that modulate the activity of both NaV and CaV3 channels. Tap1a and Tap2a inhibited on-target NaV and CaV3 channels at nanomolar to micromolar concentrations and displayed moderate off-target selectivity for NaV1.6 and weak affinity for NaV1.4 and NaV1.5. The most potent inhibitor, Tap1a, nearly ablated neuronal mechanosensitivity in afferent fibers innervating the colon and the bladder, with in vivo intracolonic administration reversing colonic mechanical hypersensitivity in a mouse model of irritable bowel syndrome. These findings suggest that targeting a specific combination of NaV and CaV3 subtypes provides a novel route for treatment of chronic visceral pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda C Cardoso
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Joel Castro
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Luke Grundy
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Gudrun Schober
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sonia Garcia-Caraballo
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tianjiao Zhao
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Volker Herzig
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Stuart M Brierley
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Richard J Lewis
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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13
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Castro J, Maddern J, Erickson A, Caldwell A, Grundy L, Harrington AM, Brierley SM. Pharmacological modulation of voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels alters nociception arising from the female reproductive tract. Pain 2021; 162:227-242. [PMID: 32826751 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Dyspareunia, also known as vaginal hyperalgesia, is a prevalent and debilitating symptom of gynaecological disorders such as endometriosis and vulvodynia. Despite this, the sensory pathways transmitting nociceptive information from female reproductive organs remain poorly characterised. As such, the development of specific treatments for pain associated with dyspareunia is currently lacking. Here, we examined, for the first time, (1) the mechanosensory properties of pelvic afferent nerves innervating the mouse vagina; (2) the expression profile of voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels within these afferents; and (3) how pharmacological modulation of these channels alters vaginal nociceptive signalling ex vivo, in vitro, and in vivo. We developed a novel afferent recording preparation and characterised responses of pelvic afferents innervating the mouse vagina to different mechanical stimuli. Single-cell reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction determined mRNA expression of NaV channels within vagina-innervating dorsal root ganglia neurons. Vagina-innervating dorsal root ganglia neuroexcitability was measured using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology. Nociception evoked by vaginal distension was assessed by dorsal horn neuron activation within the spinal cord and quantification of visceromotor responses. We found that pelvic afferents innervating the vagina are tuned to detect various mechanical stimuli, with NaV channels abundantly expressed within these neurons. Pharmacological modulation of NaV channels (with veratridine or tetrodotoxin) correspondingly alters the excitability and mechanosensitivity of vagina-innervating afferents, as well as dorsal horn neuron activation and visceromotor responses evoked by vaginal distension. This study identifies potential molecular targets that can be used to modulate vaginal nociceptive signalling and aid in the development of approaches to manage endometriosis and vulvodynia-related dyspareunia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Castro
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Jessica Maddern
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Andelain Erickson
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ashlee Caldwell
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Luke Grundy
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Andrea M Harrington
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Stuart M Brierley
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
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14
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Herzig V, Cristofori-Armstrong B, Israel MR, Nixon SA, Vetter I, King GF. Animal toxins - Nature's evolutionary-refined toolkit for basic research and drug discovery. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 181:114096. [PMID: 32535105 PMCID: PMC7290223 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Venomous animals have evolved toxins that interfere with specific components of their victim's core physiological systems, thereby causing biological dysfunction that aids in prey capture, defense against predators, or other roles such as intraspecific competition. Many animal lineages evolved venom systems independently, highlighting the success of this strategy. Over the course of evolution, toxins with exceptional specificity and high potency for their intended molecular targets have prevailed, making venoms an invaluable and almost inexhaustible source of bioactive molecules, some of which have found use as pharmacological tools, human therapeutics, and bioinsecticides. Current biomedically-focused research on venoms is directed towards their use in delineating the physiological role of toxin molecular targets such as ion channels and receptors, studying or treating human diseases, targeting vectors of human diseases, and treating microbial and parasitic infections. We provide examples of each of these areas of venom research, highlighting the potential that venom molecules hold for basic research and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker Herzig
- School of Science & Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.
| | | | - Mathilde R Israel
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Samantha A Nixon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Irina Vetter
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.
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15
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Cardoso FC. Multi-targeting sodium and calcium channels using venom peptides for the treatment of complex ion channels-related diseases. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 181:114107. [PMID: 32579958 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Venom peptides are amongst the most exquisite group of bioactive molecules able to alter the normal physiology of organisms. These bioactive peptides penetrate tissues and blood vessels to encounter a number of receptors and ion channels to which they bind with high affinity and execute modulatory activities. Arachnid is the most diverse class of venomous animals often rich in peptides modulating voltage-gated sodium (NaV), calcium (CaV), and potassium (KV) channels. Spider venoms, in particular, contain potent and selective peptides targeting these channels, with a few displaying interesting multi-target properties for NaV and CaV channels underlying disease mechanisms such as in neuropathic pain, motor neuron disease and cancer. The elucidation of the pharmacology and structure-function properties of these venom peptides are invaluable for the development of effective drugs targeting NaV and CaV channels. This perspective discusses spider venom peptides displaying multi-target properties to modulate NaV and CaV channels in regard to their pharmacological features, structure-function relationships and potential to become the next generation of effective drugs to treat neurological disorders and other multi-ion channels related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda C Cardoso
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 306 Carmody Rd., St Lucia, QLD AU 4072, Australia
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16
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Bahceci D, Anderson LL, Occelli Hanbury Brown CV, Zhou C, Arnold JC. Adolescent behavioral abnormalities in a Scn1a +/- mouse model of Dravet syndrome. Epilepsy Behav 2020; 103:106842. [PMID: 31870807 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Dravet syndrome is an intractable pediatric epilepsy associated with SCN1A mutations. In addition to having a large seizure burden and a reduced lifespan, patients with Dravet syndrome also exhibit delays in reaching normal developmental milestones in attentional, emotional, and cognitive function. These developmental delays manifest in autistic-like social withdrawal and compulsive behavior. Additionally, cognitive impairments including deficits in sensorimotor processing and memory function are present. Several mouse models utilizing heterozygous deletion of Scn1a (Scn1a+/- mice) have been generated that recapitulate many aspects of Dravet syndrome. Studies in these mouse models of Dravet syndrome have characterized behavioral phenotypes in adult mice. In the present study, we characterized the behavioral phenotype of Scn1a+/- mice generated by targeted deletion of Scn1a exon 1 (Scn1atm1Kea) during adolescence. Identifying behavioral deficits in adolescent mice would more closely model the early onset of attentional, emotional, and cognitive delays observed in patients with Dravet syndrome. The behaviors of adolescent Scn1a+/- and wildtype (WT) mice were compared across several behavioral domains. We assessed motor function (open-field test), sociability and social recognition memory (three-chambered social preference and social interaction tests), memory function (novel object recognition, Barnes maze, fear conditioning paradigm), anxiety-related behavior (elevated plus maze and open-field thigmotaxis), startle reflex and sensorimotor gating (prepulse inhibition of startle (PPI) tests), and repetitive compulsive behavior (marble burying test). Adolescent Scn1a+/- mice exhibited normal locomotor activity, marble burying behavior, sociability, and sensorimotor gating. However, adolescent Scn1a+/- mice displayed increased anxiety-related thigmotactic behavior, atypical fear expression, blunted acoustic startle responses, and impaired social recognition and spatial memory. Our results show that Scn1a+/- mice display various behavioral impairments during adolescence, which provides a foundation for testing early intervention therapies targeting developmental delays modeled in Dravet syndrome mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilara Bahceci
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; School of Medical Science and Discipline of Pharmacology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Lyndsey Leigh Anderson
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; School of Medical Science and Discipline of Pharmacology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Cassandra Veronica Occelli Hanbury Brown
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; School of Medical Science and Discipline of Pharmacology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Cilla Zhou
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; School of Medical Science and Discipline of Pharmacology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Jonathon Carl Arnold
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; School of Medical Science and Discipline of Pharmacology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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17
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Spider Knottin Pharmacology at Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels and Their Potential to Modulate Pain Pathways. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11110626. [PMID: 31671792 PMCID: PMC6891507 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11110626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium channels (NaVs) are a key determinant of neuronal signalling. Neurotoxins from diverse taxa that selectively activate or inhibit NaV channels have helped unravel the role of NaV channels in diseases, including chronic pain. Spider venoms contain the most diverse array of inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) toxins (knottins). This review provides an overview on how spider knottins modulate NaV channels and describes the structural features and molecular determinants that influence their affinity and subtype selectivity. Genetic and functional evidence support a major involvement of NaV subtypes in various chronic pain conditions. The exquisite inhibitory properties of spider knottins over key NaV subtypes make them the best lead molecules for the development of novel analgesics to treat chronic pain.
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18
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Castro J, Harrington AM, Lieu T, Garcia-Caraballo S, Maddern J, Schober G, O’Donnell T, Grundy L, Lumsden AL, Miller P, Ghetti A, Steinhoff MS, Poole DP, Dong X, Chang L, Bunnett NW, Brierley SM. Activation of pruritogenic TGR5, MrgprA3, and MrgprC11 on colon-innervating afferents induces visceral hypersensitivity. JCI Insight 2019; 4:131712. [PMID: 31536477 PMCID: PMC6824308 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.131712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Itch induces scratching that removes irritants from the skin, whereas pain initiates withdrawal or avoidance of tissue damage. While pain arises from both the skin and viscera, we investigated whether pruritogenic irritant mechanisms also function within visceral pathways. We show that subsets of colon-innervating sensory neurons in mice express, either individually or in combination, the pruritogenic receptors Tgr5 and the Mas-gene-related GPCRs Mrgpra3 and Mrgprc11. Agonists of these receptors activated subsets of colonic sensory neurons and evoked colonic afferent mechanical hypersensitivity via a TRPA1-dependent mechanism. In vivo intracolonic administration of individual TGR5, MrgprA3, or MrgprC11 agonists induced pronounced visceral hypersensitivity to colorectal distension. Coadministration of these agonists as an "itch cocktail" augmented hypersensitivity to colorectal distension and changed mouse behavior. These irritant mechanisms were maintained and enhanced in a model of chronic visceral hypersensitivity relevant to irritable bowel syndrome. Neurons from human dorsal root ganglia also expressed TGR5, as well as the human ortholog MrgprX1, and showed increased responsiveness to pruritogenic agonists in pathological states. These data support the existence of an irritant-sensing system in the colon that is a visceral representation of the itch pathways found in skin, thereby contributing to sensory disturbances accompanying common intestinal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Castro
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Andrea M. Harrington
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - TinaMarie Lieu
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sonia Garcia-Caraballo
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jessica Maddern
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Gudrun Schober
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tracey O’Donnell
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Luke Grundy
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Amanda L. Lumsden
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Paul Miller
- AnaBios Corporation, San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Martin S. Steinhoff
- Department of Dermatology and Dermatology Immunology Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar and Weill Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
- School of Medicine Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Daniel P. Poole
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Xinzhong Dong
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Center for Sensory Biology, School of Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lin Chang
- G. Oppenheimer Centre for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Nigel W. Bunnett
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Surgery and
- Department of Pharmacology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stuart M. Brierley
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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19
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Tetrodotoxin-Sensitive Sodium Channels Mediate Action Potential Firing and Excitability in Menthol-Sensitive Vglut3-Lineage Sensory Neurons. J Neurosci 2019; 39:7086-7101. [PMID: 31300524 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2817-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Small-diameter vesicular glutamate transporter 3-lineage (Vglut3lineage) dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons play an important role in mechanosensation and thermal hypersensitivity; however, little is known about their intrinsic electrical properties. We therefore set out to investigate mechanisms of excitability within this population. Calcium microfluorimetry analysis of male and female mouse DRG neurons demonstrated that the cooling compound menthol selectively activates a subset of Vglut3lineage neurons. Whole-cell recordings showed that small-diameter Vglut3lineage DRG neurons fire menthol-evoked action potentials and exhibited robust, transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8)-dependent discharges at room temperature. This heightened excitability was confirmed by current-clamp and action potential phase-plot analyses, which showed menthol-sensitive Vglut3lineage neurons to have more depolarized membrane potentials, lower firing thresholds, and higher evoked firing frequencies compared with menthol-insensitive Vglut3lineage neurons. A biophysical analysis revealed voltage-gated sodium channel (NaV) currents in menthol-sensitive Vglut3lineage neurons were resistant to entry into slow inactivation compared with menthol-insensitive neurons. Multiplex in situ hybridization showed similar distributions of tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive NaV transcripts between TRPM8-positive and -negative Vglut3lineage neurons; however, NaV1.8 transcripts, which encode TTX-resistant channels, were more prevalent in TRPM8-negative neurons. Conversely, pharmacological analyses identified distinct functional contributions of NaV subunits, with NaV1.1 driving firing in menthol-sensitive neurons, whereas other small-diameter Vglut3lineage neurons rely primarily on TTX-resistant NaV channels. Additionally, when NaV1.1 channels were blocked, the remaining NaV current readily entered into slow inactivation in menthol-sensitive Vglut3lineage neurons. Thus, these data demonstrate that TTX-sensitive NaVs drive action potential firing in menthol-sensitive sensory neurons and contribute to their heightened excitability.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Somatosensory neurons encode various sensory modalities including thermoreception, mechanoreception, nociception, and itch. This report identifies a previously unknown requirement for tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium channels in action potential firing in a discrete subpopulation of small-diameter sensory neurons that are activated by the cooling agent menthol. Together, our results provide a mechanistic understanding of factors that control intrinsic excitability in functionally distinct subsets of peripheral neurons. Furthermore, as menthol has been used for centuries as an analgesic and anti-pruritic, these findings support the viability of NaV1.1 as a therapeutic target for sensory disorders.
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20
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Wulff H, Christophersen P, Colussi P, Chandy KG, Yarov-Yarovoy V. Antibodies and venom peptides: new modalities for ion channels. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2019; 18:339-357. [PMID: 30728472 PMCID: PMC6499689 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-019-0013-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Ion channels play fundamental roles in both excitable and non-excitable tissues and therefore constitute attractive drug targets for myriad neurological, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases as well as for cancer and immunomodulation. However, achieving selectivity for specific ion channel subtypes with small-molecule drugs has been challenging, and there currently is a growing trend to target ion channels with biologics. One approach is to improve the pharmacokinetics of existing or novel venom-derived peptides. In parallel, after initial studies with polyclonal antibodies demonstrated the technical feasibility of inhibiting channel function with antibodies, multiple preclinical programmes are now using the full spectrum of available technologies to generate conventional monoclonal and engineered antibodies or nanobodies against extracellular loops of ion channels. After a summary of the current state of ion channel drug discovery, this Review discusses recent developments using the purinergic receptor channel P2X purinoceptor 7 (P2X7), the voltage-gated potassium channel KV1.3 and the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.7 as examples of targeting ion channels with biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heike Wulff
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | | | | | - K George Chandy
- Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Infection and Immunity Theme, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vladimir Yarov-Yarovoy
- Department of Physiology & Membrane Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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21
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Cardoso FC, Lewis RJ. Structure-Function and Therapeutic Potential of Spider Venom-Derived Cysteine Knot Peptides Targeting Sodium Channels. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:366. [PMID: 31031623 PMCID: PMC6470632 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider venom-derived cysteine knot peptides are a mega-diverse class of molecules that exhibit unique pharmacological properties to modulate key membrane protein targets. Voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) are often targeted by these peptides to allosterically promote opening or closing of the channel by binding to structural domains outside the channel pore. These effects can result in modified pain responses, muscle paralysis, cardiac arrest, priapism, and numbness. Although such effects are often deleterious, subtype selective spider venom peptides are showing potential to treat a range of neurological disorders, including chronic pain and epilepsy. This review examines the structure–activity relationships of cysteine knot peptides from spider venoms that modulate NaV and discusses their potential as leads to novel therapies for neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda C Cardoso
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard J Lewis
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
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22
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Cai S, Bellampalli SS, Yu J, Li W, Ji Y, Wijeratne EMK, Dorame A, Luo S, Shan Z, Khanna M, Moutal A, Streicher JM, Gunatilaka AAL, Khanna R. (-)-Hardwickiic Acid and Hautriwaic Acid Induce Antinociception via Blockade of Tetrodotoxin-Sensitive Voltage-Dependent Sodium Channels. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:1716-1728. [PMID: 30525440 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
For an affliction that debilitates an estimated 50 million adults in the United States, the current chronic pain management approaches are inadequate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called for a minimization in opioid prescription and use for chronic pain conditions, and thus, it is imperative to discover alternative non-opioid based strategies. For the realization of this call, a library of natural products was screened in search of pharmacological inhibitors of both voltage-gated calcium channels and voltage-gated sodium channels, which are excellent targets due to their well-established roles in nociceptive pathways. We discovered (-)-hardwickiic acid ((-)-HDA) and hautriwaic acid (HTA) isolated from plants, Croton californicus and Eremocarpus setigerus, respectively, inhibited tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium, but not calcium or potassium, channels in small diameter, presumptively nociceptive, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Failure to inhibit spontaneous postsynaptic excitatory currents indicated a preferential targeting of voltage-gated sodium channels over voltage-gated calcium channels by these extracts. Neither compound was a ligand at opioid receptors. Finally, we identified the potential of both (-)-HDA and HTA to reverse chronic pain behavior in preclinical rat models of HIV-sensory neuropathy, and for (-)-HDA specifically, in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Our results illustrate the therapeutic potential for (-)-HDA and HTA for chronic pain management and could represent a scaffold, that, if optimized by structure-activity relationship studies, may yield novel specific sodium channel antagonists for pain relief.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jie Yu
- College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310058, P.R. China
| | | | - Yingshi Ji
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | | | | | | | - Zhiming Shan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital & Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen 518020, P.R. China
| | - May Khanna
- The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
| | | | | | | | - Rajesh Khanna
- The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
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23
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Maatuf Y, Geron M, Priel A. The Role of Toxins in the Pursuit for Novel Analgesics. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11020131. [PMID: 30813430 PMCID: PMC6409898 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11020131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is a major medical issue which reduces the quality of life of millions and inflicts a significant burden on health authorities worldwide. Currently, management of chronic pain includes first-line pharmacological therapies that are inadequately effective, as in just a portion of patients pain relief is obtained. Furthermore, most analgesics in use produce severe or intolerable adverse effects that impose dose restrictions and reduce compliance. As the majority of analgesic agents act on the central nervous system (CNS), it is possible that blocking pain at its source by targeting nociceptors would prove more efficient with minimal CNS-related side effects. The development of such analgesics requires the identification of appropriate molecular targets and thorough understanding of their structural and functional features. To this end, plant and animal toxins can be employed as they affect ion channels with high potency and selectivity. Moreover, elucidation of the toxin-bound ion channel structure could generate pharmacophores for rational drug design while favorable safety and analgesic profiles could highlight toxins as leads or even as valuable therapeutic compounds themselves. Here, we discuss the use of plant and animal toxins in the characterization of peripherally expressed ion channels which are implicated in pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yossi Maatuf
- The Institute for Drug Research (IDR), School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel.
| | - Matan Geron
- The Institute for Drug Research (IDR), School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel.
| | - Avi Priel
- The Institute for Drug Research (IDR), School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel.
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24
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Abstract
Most of us live blissfully unaware of the orchestrated function that our internal organs conduct. When this peace is interrupted, it is often by routine sensations of hunger and urge. However, for >20% of the global population, chronic visceral pain is an unpleasant and often excruciating reminder of the existence of our internal organs. In many cases, there is no obvious underlying pathological cause of the pain. Accordingly, chronic visceral pain is debilitating, reduces the quality of life of sufferers, and has large concomitant socioeconomic costs. In this review, we highlight key mechanisms underlying chronic abdominal and pelvic pain associated with functional and inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. This includes how the colon and bladder are innervated by specialized subclasses of spinal afferents, how these afferents become sensitized in highly dynamic signaling environments, and the subsequent development of neuroplasticity within visceral pain pathways. We also highlight key contributing factors, including alterations in commensal bacteria, altered mucosal permeability, epithelial interactions with afferent nerves, alterations in immune or stress responses, and cross talk between these two adjacent organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Grundy
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia; .,Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, University of Adelaide, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Andelain Erickson
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia; .,Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, University of Adelaide, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Stuart M Brierley
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia; .,Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, University of Adelaide, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
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25
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Brierley SM, Hibberd TJ, Spencer NJ. Spinal Afferent Innervation of the Colon and Rectum. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:467. [PMID: 30564102 PMCID: PMC6288476 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their seemingly elementary roles, the colon and rectum undertake a variety of key processes to ensure our overall wellbeing. Such processes are coordinated by the transmission of sensory signals from the periphery to the central nervous system, allowing communication from the gut to the brain via the "gut-brain axis". These signals are transmitted from the peripheral terminals of extrinsic sensory nerve fibers, located within the wall of the colon or rectum, and via their axons within the spinal splanchnic and pelvic nerves to the spinal cord. Recent studies utilizing electrophysiological, anatomical and gene expression techniques indicate a surprisingly diverse set of distinct afferent subclasses, which innervate all layers of the colon and rectum. Combined these afferent sub-types allow the detection of luminal contents, low- and high-intensity stretch or contraction, in addition to the detection of inflammatory, immune, and microbial mediators. To add further complexity, the proportions of these afferents vary within splanchnic and pelvic pathways, whilst the density of the splanchnic and pelvic innervation also varies along the colon and rectum. In this review we traverse this complicated landscape to elucidate afferent function, structure, and nomenclature to provide insights into how the extrinsic sensory afferent innervation of the colon and rectum gives rise to physiological defecatory reflexes and sensations of discomfort, bloating, urgency, and pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart M Brierley
- Visceral Pain Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.,Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Timothy J Hibberd
- Visceral Neurophysiology Laboratory, Centre for Neuroscience, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Nick J Spencer
- Visceral Neurophysiology Laboratory, Centre for Neuroscience, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
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26
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Gonçalves TC, Benoit E, Partiseti M, Servent D. The Na V1.7 Channel Subtype as an Antinociceptive Target for Spider Toxins in Adult Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1000. [PMID: 30233376 PMCID: PMC6131673 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Although necessary for human survival, pain may sometimes become pathologic if long-lasting and associated with alterations in its signaling pathway. Opioid painkillers are officially used to treat moderate to severe, and even mild, pain. However, the consequent strong and not so rare complications that occur, including addiction and overdose, combined with pain management costs, remain an important societal and economic concern. In this context, animal venom toxins represent an original source of antinociceptive peptides that mainly target ion channels (such as ASICs as well as TRP, CaV, KV and NaV channels) involved in pain transmission. The present review aims to highlight the NaV1.7 channel subtype as an antinociceptive target for spider toxins in adult dorsal root ganglia neurons. It will detail (i) the characteristics of these primary sensory neurons, the first ones in contact with pain stimulus and conveying the nociceptive message, (ii) the electrophysiological properties of the different NaV channel subtypes expressed in these neurons, with a particular attention on the NaV1.7 subtype, an antinociceptive target of choice that has been validated by human genetic evidence, and (iii) the features of spider venom toxins, shaped of inhibitory cysteine knot motif, that present high affinity for the NaV1.7 subtype associated with evidenced analgesic efficacy in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tânia C Gonçalves
- Sanofi R&D, Integrated Drug Discovery - High Content Biology, Paris, France.,Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, CEA de Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Evelyne Benoit
- Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, CEA de Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.,Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, UMR CNRS/Université Paris-Sud 9197, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Michel Partiseti
- Sanofi R&D, Integrated Drug Discovery - High Content Biology, Paris, France
| | - Denis Servent
- Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, CEA de Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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27
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Tetrodotoxin-sensitive voltage-gated sodium channels regulate bladder afferent responses to distension. Pain 2018; 159:2573-2584. [DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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