Regulation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 expression in trigeminal ganglion neurons via methyl-CpG binding protein 2 signaling contributes tongue heat sensitivity and inflammatory hyperalgesia in mice

Function and Regulation of the Calcium-Activated Chloride Channel Anoctamin 1 (TMEM16A)

Various human tissues express the calcium-activated chloride channel Anoctamin 1 (ANO1), also known as TMEM16A. ANO1 allows the passive chloride flux that controls different physiological functions ranging from muscle contraction, fluid and hormone secretion, gastrointestinal motility, and electrical excitability. Overexpression of ANO1 is associated with pathological conditions such as hypertension and cancer. The molecular cloning of ANO1 has led to a surge in structural, functional, and physiological studies of the channel in several tissues. ANO1 is a homodimer channel harboring two pores - one in each monomer - that work independently. Each pore is activated by voltage-dependent binding of two intracellular calcium ions to a high-affinity-binding site. In addition, the binding of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to sites scattered throughout the cytosolic side of the protein aids the calcium activation process. Furthermore, many pharmacological studies have established ANO1 as a target of promising compounds that could treat several illnesses. This chapter describes our current understanding of the physiological roles of ANO1 and its regulation under physiological conditions as well as new pharmacological compounds with potential therapeutic applications.

MeCP2 Epigenetic Silencing of Oprm1 Gene in Primary Sensory Neurons Under Neuropathic Pain Conditions

Opioids are the last option for the pharmacological treatment of neuropathic pain, but their antinociceptive effects are limited. Decreased mu opioid receptor (MOR) expression in the peripheral nervous system may contribute to this. Here, we showed that nerve injury induced hypermethylation of the Oprm1 gene promoter and an increased expression of methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) in injured dorsal root ganglion (DRG). The downregulation of MOR in the DRG is closely related to the augmentation of MeCP2, an epigenetic repressor, which could recruit HDAC1 and bind to the methylated regions of the Oprm1 gene promoter. MeCP2 knockdown restored the expression of MOR in injured DRG and enhanced the analgesic effect of morphine, while the mimicking of this increase via the intrathecal infusion of viral vector-mediated MeCP2 was sufficient to reduce MOR in the DRG. Moreover, HDAC1 inhibition with suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, an HDAC inhibitor, also prevented MOR reduction in the DRG of neuropathic pain mice, contributing to the augmentation of morphine analgesia effects. Mechanistically, upregulated MeCP2 promotes the binding of a high level of HDCA1 to hypermethylated regions of the Oprm1 gene promoter, reduces the acetylation of histone H3 (acH3) levels of the Oprm1 gene promoter, and attenuates Oprm1 transcription in injured DRG. Thus, upregulated MeCP2 and HDAC1 in Oprm1 gene promoter sites, negatively regulates MOR expression in injured DRG, mitigating the analgesic effect of the opioids. Targeting MeCP2/HDAC1 may thus provide a new solution for improving the therapeutic effect of opioids in a clinical setting.

The Calcium-Activated Chloride Channel TMEM16A is Inhibitied by Liquiritigenin

The transmembrane 16 (TMEM16) family contains 10 subtypes, and the function of each protein is different. TMEM16A is a calcium-activated chloride channel involved in physiological and pathological situations. Liquiritigenin is an aglycone derived from Glycyrrhiza glabra, and it is generated via the metabolism of enterobacterial flora. It has been known that liquiritigenin reduces pain sensation involving TMEM16A activation in primary sensory neurons. In addition, other pharmacological effects of liquiritigenin in physiological functions involving TMEM16A have been reported. However, the relationship between TMEM16A and liquiritigenin is still unknown. Therefore, we hypothesized that TMEM16A is inhibited by liquiritigenin. To confirm this hypothesis, we investigated the effect of liquiritigenin on TMEM16A currents evoked by intracellular free calcium in HEK293T cells transfected with TMEM16A. In this study, we found that liquiritigenin inhibited the mouse and human TMEM16A currents. To further confirm its selectivity, we also investigated its pharmacological effects on other ion channels, including transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), which are non-selective cation channels involved in pain sensation. However, liquiritigenin did not inhibit the currents of TRPV1 and TRPA1 induced by capsaicin and allyl isothiocyanate, respectively. Therefore, our findings indicate that selective TMEM16A inhibition could be one molecular mechanism that explains liquiritigenin-induced pain reduction. Additionally, we also investigated the inhibitory effects of estrogens on TMEM16A because liquiritigenin reportedly binds to the estrogen receptor. In this study, a pregnancy-dependent estrogen, estriol, significantly inhibited TMEM16A. However, the efficacy was weak. Although there is a possibility that TMEM16A activity could be suppressed during pregnancy, the physiological significance seems to be small. Thus, the inhibitory effect of estrogen might not be significant under physiological conditions. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of dihydrodaidzein, which is an analog of liquiritigenin that has a hydroxyphenyl at different carbon atom of pyranose. Dihydrodaidzein also inhibited mouse and human TMEM16A. However, the inhibitory effects were weaker than those of liquiritigenin. This suggests that the efficacy of TMEM16A antagonists depends on the hydroxyl group positions. Our finding of liquiritigenin-dependent TMEM16A inhibition could connect the current fragmented knowledge of the physiological and pathological mechanisms involving TMEM16A and liquiritigenin.

Defining the Teratoma as a Model for Multi-lineage Human Development

We propose that the teratoma, a recognized standard for validating pluripotency in stem cells, could be a promising platform for studying human developmental processes. Performing single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of 179,632 cells across 23 teratomas from 4 cell lines, we found that teratomas reproducibly contain approximately 20 cell types across all 3 germ layers, that inter-teratoma cell type heterogeneity is comparable with organoid systems, and teratoma gut and brain cell types correspond well to similar fetal cell types. Furthermore, cellular barcoding confirmed that injected stem cells robustly engraft and contribute to all lineages. Using pooled CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens, we showed that teratomas can enable simultaneous assaying of the effects of genetic perturbations across all germ layers. Additionally, we demonstrated that teratomas can be sculpted molecularly via microRNA (miRNA)-regulated suicide gene expression to enrich for specific tissues. Taken together, teratomas are a promising platform for modeling multi-lineage development, pan-tissue functional genetic screening, and tissue engineering.

Early Postnatal Treatment with Valproate Induces Gad1 Promoter Remodeling in the Brain and Reduces Apnea Episodes in Mecp2-Null Mice

The deletion of Mecp2, the gene encoding methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, causes severe breathing defects and developmental anomalies in mammals. In Mecp2-null mice, impaired GABAergic neurotransmission is demonstrated at the early stage of life. GABAergic dysfunction in neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) is considered as a primary cause of breathing abnormality in Mecp2-null mice, but its molecular mechanism is unclear. Here, we report that mRNA expression levels of Gad1, which encodes glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67), in the RVLM of Mecp2-null (Mecp2^-/y, B6.129P2(C)-Mecp2^tm1.1Bird/J) mice is closely related to the methylation status of its promoter, and valproate (VPA) can upregulate transcription from Gad1 through epigenetic mechanisms. The administration of VPA (300 mg/kg/day) together with L-carnitine (30 mg/kg/day) from day 8 to day 14 after birth increased Gad1 mRNA expression in the RVLM and reduced apnea counts in Mecp2^-/y mice on postnatal day 15. Cytosine methylation levels in the Gad1 promoter were higher in the RVLM of Mecp2^-/y mice compared to wild-type mice born to C57BL/6J females, while VPA treatment decreased the methylation levels in Mecp2^-/y mice. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that the VPA treatment reduced the binding of methyl-CpG binding domain protein 1 (MBD1) to the Gad1 promoter in Mecp2^-/y mice. These results suggest that VPA improves breathing of Mecp2^-/y mice by reducing the Gad1 promoter methylation, which potentially leads to the enhancement of GABAergic neurotransmission in the RVLM.

Emerging Perspectives on Pain Management by Modulation of TRP Channels and ANO1

Receptor-type ion channels are critical for detection of noxious stimuli in primary sensory neurons. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels mediate pain sensations and promote a variety of neuronal signals that elicit secondary neural functions (such as calcitonin gene-related peptide [CGRP] secretion), which are important for physiological functions throughout the body. In this review, we focus on the involvement of TRP channels in sensing acute pain, inflammatory pain, headache, migraine, pain due to fungal infections, and osteo-inflammation. Furthermore, action potentials mediated via interactions between TRP channels and the chloride channel, anoctamin 1 (ANO1), can also generate strong pain sensations in primary sensory neurons. Thus, we also discuss mechanisms that enhance neuronal excitation and are dependent on ANO1, and consider modulation of pain sensation from the perspective of both cation and anion dynamics.

The Expression of Transcription Factors Mecp2 and CREB Is Modulated in Inflammatory Pelvic Pain

Early activation of transcription factors is one of the epigenetic mechanisms contributing to the induction and maintenance of chronic pain states. Previous studies identified the changes in a number of nociception-related genes, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) in the pelvic organs after transient colonic inflammation. The gene and protein expression of these neuropeptides could be modulated by transcription factors Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (Mecp2) and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). In this study, we aimed to evaluate time-dependent changes in the expression levels of Mecp2 and CREB in the lumbosacral (LS) spinal cord and sensory ganglia after inflammation-induced pelvic pain in rat. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) to induce transient colonic inflammation. LS (L6-S2) spinal cord segments and respective dorsal root ganglias (DRGs) were isolated from control and experimental animals at 1, 2, 6, 24 h and 3 days post-TNBS treatment. Immunohistochemical (IHC) labeling and Western blotting experiments were performed to assess the expression of Mecp2, CREB and their phosphorylated forms. Total Mecp2 expression, but not phosphorylated p-Mecp2 (pS421Mecp2) expression was detected in the cells of the spinal dorsal horn under control conditions. Colonic inflammation triggered a significant decrease in the number of Mecp2-expressing neurons in parallel with elevated numbers of pS421Mecp2-expressing cells at 2 h and 6 h post-TNBS. The majority of Mecp2-positive cells (80 ± 6%) co-expressed CREB. TNBS treatment caused a transient up-regulation of CREB-expressing cells at 1 h post-TNBS only. The number of cells expressing phosphorylated CREB (pS133CREB) did not change at 1 h and 2 h post-TNBS, but was down-regulated by three folds at 6 h post-TNBS. Analysis of DRG sections revealed that the number of Mecp2-positive neurons was up-regulated by TNBS treatment, reaching three-fold increase at 2 h post-TNBS, and eight-fold increase at 6 h post-TNBS (p ≤ 0.05 to control). These data showed early changes in Mecp2 and CREB expression in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and sensory ganglia after colonic inflammation, suggesting a possible contribution Mecp2 and CREB signaling in the development of visceral hyperalgesia and pelvic pain following peripheral inflammation.

MBD1 Contributes to the Genesis of Acute Pain and Neuropathic Pain by Epigenetic Silencing of Oprm1 and Kcna2 Genes in Primary Sensory Neurons

The transmission of normal sensory and/or acute noxious information requires intact expression of pain-associated genes within the pain pathways of nervous system. Expressional changes of these genes after peripheral nerve injury are also critical for neuropathic pain induction and maintenance. Methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 1 (MBD1), an epigenetic repressor, regulates gene transcriptional activity. We report here that MBD1 in the primary sensory neurons of DRG is critical for the genesis of acute pain and neuropathic pain as DRG MBD1-deficient mice exhibit the reduced responses to acute mechanical, heat, cold, and capsaicin stimuli and the blunted nerve injury-induced pain hypersensitivities. Furthermore, DRG overexpression of MBD1 leads to spontaneous pain and evoked pain hypersensitivities in the WT mice and restores acute pain sensitivities in the MBD1-deficient mice. Mechanistically, MDB1 represses Oprm1 and Kcna2 gene expression by recruiting DNA methyltransferase DNMT3a into these two gene promoters in the DRG neurons. DRG MBD1 is likely a key player under the conditions of acute pain and neuropathic pain.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In the present study, we revealed that the mice with deficiency of methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 1 (MBD1), an epigenetic repressor, in the DRG displayed the reduced responses to acute noxious stimuli and the blunted neuropathic pain. We also showed that DRG overexpression of MBD1 produced the hypersensitivities to noxious stimuli in the WT mice and rescued acute pain sensitivities in the MBD1-deficient mice. We have also provided the evidence that MDB1 represses Oprm1 and Kcna2 gene expression by recruiting DNA methyltransferase DNMT3a into these two gene promoters in the DRG neurons. DRG MBD1 may participate in the genesis of acute pain and neuropathic pain likely through regulating DNMT3a-controlled Oprm1 and Kcna2 gene expression in the DRG neurons.