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Mogil JS, Parisien M, Esfahani SJ, Diatchenko L. Sex differences in mechanisms of pain hypersensitivity. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 163:105749. [PMID: 38838876 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The introduction of sex-as-a-biological-variable policies at funding agencies around the world has led to an explosion of very recent observations of sex differences in the biology underlying pain. This review considers evidence of sexually dimorphic mechanisms mediating pain hypersensitivity, derived from modern assays of persistent pain in rodent animal models. Three well-studied findings are described in detail: the male-specific role of spinal cord microglia, the female-specific role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and the female-specific role of prolactin and its receptor. Other findings of sex-specific molecular involvement in pain are subjected to pathway analyses and reveal at least one novel hypothesis: that females may preferentially use Th1 and males Th2 T cell activity to mediate chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S Mogil
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1B1, Canada.
| | - Marc Parisien
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Sahel J Esfahani
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Luda Diatchenko
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1B1, Canada
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2
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Qu Y, Cai R, Li Q, Wang H, Lu L. Neuroinflammation signatures in dorsal root ganglia following chronic constriction injury. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31481. [PMID: 38813203 PMCID: PMC11133895 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain (NP) is a common debilitating chronic pain condition with limited effective therapeutics. Further investigating mechanisms underlying NP is therefore of great importance for discovering more promising therapeutic targets. In the current study, we employed high-throughput RNA sequencing to explore transcriptome profiles of mRNAs and microRNAs in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) following chronic constriction injury (CCI) and also integrated published datasets for comprehensive analysis. First, we established CCI rat model confirmed by behavioral testings, and excavated 467 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs) and 16 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs) in the ipsilateral lumbar 4-6 DRG of CCI rats 11 days after surgery. Functional enrichment analysis of 337 upregulated DEGs showed that most of the DEGs were enriched in inflammation- and immune-associated biological processes and signaling pathways. The protein-protein interaction networks were constructed and hub DEGs were screened. Besides hub DEGs, we also identified 113 overlapped DEGs by intersecting our dataset with dataset GSE100122. Subsequently, we predicted potential miRNA-mRNA regulatory pairs using DEmiRNAs and a given set of key DEGs (including hub and overlapped DEGs). By integrative analysis, we found commonly differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs following CCI of different time points and different nerve injury types. Highlighted mRNAs include Atf3, Vip, Gal, Npy, Adcyap1, Reg3b, Jun, Cd74, Gadd45a, Tgm1, Csrp3, Sprr1a, Serpina3n, Gap43, Serpinb2 and Vtcn1, while miRNAs include miR-21-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-200a-3p, miR-130a-5p, miR-216b-5p, miR-217-5p, and miR-541-5p. Additionally, 15 DEGs, including macrophages-specific (Cx3cr1, Arg1, Cd68, Csf1r) and the ones related to macrophages' involvement in NP (Ccl2, Fcgr3a, Bdnf, Ctss, Tyrobp) were verified by qRT-PCR. By functional experiments in future studies, promising therapeutic targets for NP treatment may be identified among these mRNAs and miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Qu
- Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No.1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
- Department of Pain Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Ruirui Cai
- School of Information Science and Technology, Institute of Computational Biology, Northeast Normal University, No.2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Qiao Li
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Han Wang
- School of Information Science and Technology, Institute of Computational Biology, Northeast Normal University, No.2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Laijin Lu
- Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No.1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
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3
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Ye M, Marzullo B, Adler HJ, Hu BH. Expression profiling of cochlear genes uncovers sex-based cellular function in mouse cochleae. Hear Res 2024; 448:109030. [PMID: 38776705 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2024.109030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Sex is a pivotal biological factor that significantly impacts tissue homeostasis and disease susceptibility. In the auditory system, sex differences have been observed in cochlear physiology and responses to pathological conditions. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for these differences remain elusive. The current research explores the differences in gene expression profiles in the cochlea between male and female mice, aiming to understand the functional implication of sex-biased gene expression in each sex. Using RNA-sequencing analysis on cochlear tissues obtained from male and female mice, we identified a significant number of genes exhibiting sex-biased expression differences. While some of these differentially expressed genes are located on sex chromosomes, most are found on autosomal chromosomes. Further bioinformatic analysis revealed that these genes are involved in several key cellular functions. In males, these genes are notably linked to oxidative phosphorylation and RNA synthesis and processing, suggesting their involvement in mitochondrial energy production and regulatory control of gene expression. In contrast, sex-biased genes are associated with mechano-transduction and synaptic transmission within female cochleae. Collectively, our study provides valuable insights into the molecular differences between the sexes and emphasizes the need for future research to uncover their functional implications and relevance to auditory health and disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxiao Ye
- The Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, University at Buffalo, 137 Cary Hall, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Brandon Marzullo
- UB Genomics and Bioinformatics Core NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences, University at Buffalo, 701 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA
| | - Henry J Adler
- The Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, University at Buffalo, 137 Cary Hall, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Bo Hua Hu
- The Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, University at Buffalo, 137 Cary Hall, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
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4
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Tiwari N, Qiao LY. Sex Differences in Visceral Pain and Comorbidities: Clinical Outcomes, Preclinical Models, and Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms. Cells 2024; 13:834. [PMID: 38786056 PMCID: PMC11119472 DOI: 10.3390/cells13100834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism of visceral pain has been documented in clinics and experimental animal models. Aside from hormones, emerging evidence suggests the sex-differential intrinsic neural regulation of pain generation and maintenance. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), up to 25% of the population have visceral pain at any one time, and in the United States 10-15 percent of adults suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Here we examine the preclinical and clinical evidence of sex differences in visceral pain focusing on IBS, other forms of bowel dysfunction and IBS-associated comorbidities. We summarize preclinical animal models that provide a means to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms in the sexual dimorphism of visceral pain. Neurons and nonneuronal cells (glia and immune cells) in the peripheral and central nervous systems, and the communication of gut microbiota and neural systems all contribute to sex-dependent nociception and nociplasticity in visceral painful signal processing. Emotion is another factor in pain perception and appears to have sexual dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namrata Tiwari
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Liya Y. Qiao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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Bencze N, Scheich B, Szőke É, Wilhelm I, Körmöndi S, Botz B, Helyes Z. Osteosarcoma-Induced Pain Is Mediated by Glial Cell Activation in the Spinal Dorsal Horn, but Not Capsaicin-Sensitive Nociceptive Neurons: A Complex Functional and Morphological Characterization in Mice. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1788. [PMID: 38791867 PMCID: PMC11120600 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Bone cancer and its related chronic pain are huge clinical problems since the available drugs are often ineffective or cannot be used long term due to a broad range of side effects. The mechanisms, mediators and targets need to be identified to determine potential novel therapies. Here, we characterize a mouse bone cancer model induced by intratibial injection of K7M2 osteosarcoma cells using an integrative approach and investigate the role of capsaicin-sensitive peptidergic sensory nerves. The mechanical pain threshold was assessed by dynamic plantar aesthesiometry, limb loading by dynamic weight bearing, spontaneous pain-related behaviors via observation, knee diameter with a digital caliper, and structural changes by micro-CT and glia cell activation by immunohistochemistry in BALB/c mice of both sexes. Capsaicin-sensitive peptidergic sensory neurons were defunctionalized by systemic pretreatment with a high dose of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) agonist resiniferatoxin (RTX). During the 14- and 28-day experiments, weight bearing on the affected limb and the paw mechanonociceptive thresholds significantly decreased, demonstrating secondary mechanical hyperalgesia. Signs of spontaneous pain and osteoplastic bone remodeling were detected both in male and female mice without any sex differences. Microglia activation was shown by the increased ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) immunopositivity on day 14 and astrocyte activation by the enhanced glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cell density on day 28 in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn. Interestingly, defunctionalization of the capsaicin-sensitive afferents representing approximately 2/3 of the nociceptive fibers did not alter any functional parameters. Here, we provide the first complex functional and morphological characterization of the K7M2 mouse osteosarcoma model. Bone-cancer-related chronic pain and hyperalgesia are likely to be mediated by central sensitization involving neuroinflammation via glial cell activation in the spinal dorsal horn, but not the capsaicin-sensitive sensory neuronal system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémi Bencze
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (N.B.); (É.S.); (B.B.)
- National Laboratory for Drug Research and Development, Magyar Tudósok Krt. 2, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bálint Scheich
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Éva Szőke
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (N.B.); (É.S.); (B.B.)
- National Laboratory for Drug Research and Development, Magyar Tudósok Krt. 2, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
- Hungarian Research Network, Chronic Pain Research Group (HUN-REN-PTE), 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Imola Wilhelm
- Institute of Biophysics, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, 6726 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Sándor Körmöndi
- Department of Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Bálint Botz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (N.B.); (É.S.); (B.B.)
- Department of Medical Imaging, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Helyes
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (N.B.); (É.S.); (B.B.)
- National Laboratory for Drug Research and Development, Magyar Tudósok Krt. 2, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
- Hungarian Research Network, Chronic Pain Research Group (HUN-REN-PTE), 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- PharmInVivo Ltd., Szondy György Str. 10, 7629 Pécs, Hungary
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6
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Franco-Enzástiga Ú, Inturi NN, Natarajan K, Mwirigi JM, Mazhar K, Schlachetzki JC, Schumacher M, Price TJ. Epigenomic landscape of the human dorsal root ganglion: sex differences and transcriptional regulation of nociceptive genes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.27.587047. [PMID: 38586055 PMCID: PMC10996669 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.27.587047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Gene expression is influenced by chromatin architecture via controlled access of regulatory factors to DNA. To better understand regulation of gene expression in the human dorsal root ganglion (hDRG) we used bulk and spatial transposase-accessible chromatin technology followed by sequencing (ATAC-seq). We detected a total of 3005 differentially accessible chromatin regions (DARs) between sexes using bulk ATAC-seq. DARs in female hDRG mapped mainly to the X chromosome. In males, DARs were found in autosomal genes. We also found differential transcription factor binding motifs within DARs. EGR1/3 and SP1/4 were abundant in females, and JUN, FOS and other AP-1 family members in males. With the aim of dissecting the open chromatin profile in hDRG neurons, we used spatial ATAC-seq. Consistent with our bulk ATAC-seq data, most of the DARs in female hDRG were located in X chromosome genes. Neuron cluster showed higher chromatin accessibility in GABAergic, glutamatergic, and interferon-related genes in females, and in Ca2+-signaling-related genes in males. Sex differences in open chromatin transcription factor binding sites in neuron-proximal barcodes were consistent with the bulk data, having EGR1 transcription factor activity in females and AP-1 family members in males. Accordingly, we showed higher expression of EGR1 in female hDRG compared to male with in-situ hybridization. Our findings point to epigenomic sex differences in the hDRG that likely underlie divergent transcriptional responses that determine mechanistic sex differences in pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Úrzula Franco-Enzástiga
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
| | - Nikhil N. Inturi
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
| | - Keerthana Natarajan
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
| | - Juliet M. Mwirigi
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
| | - Khadja Mazhar
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
| | - Johannes C.M. Schlachetzki
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0651, USA
| | - Mark Schumacher
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care and the UCSF Pain and Addiction Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, 94143 USA
| | - Theodore J. Price
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
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Stephens KE, Moore C, Vinson DA, White BE, Renfro Z, Zhou W, Ji Z, Ji H, Zhu H, Guan Y, Taverna SD. Identification of Regulatory Elements in Primary Sensory Neurons Involved in Trauma-Induced Neuropathic Pain. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:1845-1859. [PMID: 37792259 PMCID: PMC10896855 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03673-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a significant public health issue that is often refractory to existing therapies. Here we use a multiomic approach to identify cis-regulatory elements that show differential chromatin accessibility and reveal transcription factor (TF) binding motifs with functional regulation in the rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG), which contain cell bodies of primary sensory neurons, after nerve injury. We integrated RNA-seq to understand how differential chromatin accessibility after nerve injury may influence gene expression. Using TF protein arrays and chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR, we confirmed C/EBPγ binding to a differentially accessible sequence and used RNA-seq to identify processes in which C/EBPγ plays an important role. Our findings offer insights into TF motifs that are associated with chronic pain. These data show how interactions between chromatin landscapes and TF expression patterns may work together to determine gene expression programs in rat DRG neurons after nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly E Stephens
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, 13 Children's Way, Slot 512-47, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Center for Epigenetics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Cedric Moore
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- , Present address: 20400 Century Blvd, Suite 120, Germantown, MD, USA
| | - David A Vinson
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Center for Epigenetics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bryan E White
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, 13 Children's Way, Slot 512-47, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA
| | - Zachary Renfro
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, 13 Children's Way, Slot 512-47, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA
- Present address: School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Weiqiang Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Zhicheng Ji
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Present address: Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Hongkai Ji
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Heng Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Yun Guan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Sean D Taverna
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Center for Epigenetics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Weiss N, Zamponi GW. The T-type calcium channelosome. Pflugers Arch 2024; 476:163-177. [PMID: 38036777 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02891-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
T-type calcium channels perform crucial physiological roles across a wide spectrum of tissues, spanning both neuronal and non-neuronal system. For instance, they serve as pivotal regulators of neuronal excitability, contribute to cardiac pacemaking, and mediate the secretion of hormones. These functions significantly hinge upon the intricate interplay of T-type channels with interacting proteins that modulate their expression and function at the plasma membrane. In this review, we offer a panoramic exploration of the current knowledge surrounding these T-type channel interactors, and spotlight certain aspects of their potential for drug-based therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Weiss
- Department of Pathophysiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Gerald W Zamponi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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9
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Vogel K, Muhammad LN, Song J, Neogi T, Bingham CO, Bolster MB, Marder W, Wohlfahrt A, Clauw DJ, Dunlop D, Lee YC. Sex Differences in Pain and Quantitative Sensory Testing in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2023; 75:2472-2480. [PMID: 37365745 PMCID: PMC10704379 DOI: 10.1002/acr.25178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have higher pain and worse functional outcomes compared to men, even when treated with similar medications. The objective of this study was to identify sex differences in pain intensity, pain interference, and quantitative sensory tests (QST), which are independent of inflammation, in patients with RA. METHODS This study is a post hoc analysis of participants in the Central Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis cohort. Pain intensity was assessed using a 0-10 numeric rating scale. Pain interference was measured using a Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System computerized adaptive test. QST included pressure pain detection thresholds, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation. Women and men were compared using multiple linear regression, adjusted for age, education, race, research site, depression, obesity, RA disease duration, swollen joint count, and C-reactive protein. RESULTS Mean ± SD pain intensity was 5.32 ± 2.29 among women with RA, compared to 4.60 ± 2.23 among men with RA (adjusted difference 0.83 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.14, 1.53]). Women with RA had lower pressure pain detection thresholds at the trapezius (adjusted difference -1.22 [95% CI -1.73, -0.72]), wrist (adjusted difference -0.57 [95% CI -1.07, -0.06]), and knee (adjusted difference -1.10 [95% CI -2.00, -0.21]). No statistically significant differences in pain interference, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation were observed. CONCLUSION Women reported higher pain intensity and lower pressure pain detection thresholds (higher pain sensitivity) than men. However, pain interference, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation did not differ between men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Vogel
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Jing Song
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Tuhina Neogi
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | - Wendy Marder
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | | | | | - Dorothy Dunlop
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Yvonne C Lee
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
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Moon S, Alsarkhi L, Lin TT, Inoue R, Tahiri A, Colson C, Cai W, Shirakawa J, Qian WJ, Zhao JY, El Ouaamari A. Transcriptome and secretome profiling of sensory neurons reveals sex differences in pathways relevant to insulin sensing and insulin secretion. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23185. [PMID: 37695721 PMCID: PMC10503313 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202300941r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) convey somatosensory and metabolic cues to the central nervous system and release substances from stimulated terminal endings in peripheral organs. Sex-biased variations driven by the sex chromosome complement (XX and XY) have been implicated in the sensory-islet crosstalk. However, the molecular underpinnings of these male-female differences are not known. Here, we aim to characterize the molecular repertoire and the secretome profile of the lower thoracic spinal sensory neurons and to identify molecules with sex-biased insulin sensing- and/or insulin secretion-modulating activity that are encoded independently of circulating gonadal sex hormones. We used transcriptomics and proteomics to uncover differentially expressed genes and secreted molecules in lower thoracic T5-12 DRG sensory neurons derived from sexually immature 3-week-old male and female C57BL/6J mice. Comparative transcriptome and proteome analyses revealed differential gene expression and protein secretion in DRG neurons in males and females. The transcriptome analysis identified, among others, higher insulin signaling/sensing capabilities in female DRG neurons; secretome screening uncovered several sex-specific candidate molecules with potential regulatory functions in pancreatic β cells. Together, these data suggest a putative role of sensory interoception of insulin in the DRG-islet crosstalk with implications in sensory feedback loops in the regulation of β-cell activity in a sex-biased manner. Finally, we provide a valuable resource of molecular and secretory targets that can be leveraged for understanding insulin interoception and insulin secretion and inform the development of novel studies/approaches to fathom the role of the sensory-islet axis in the regulation of energy balance in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohyun Moon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA
| | - Lamyaa Alsarkhi
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 01595, USA
| | - Tai-Tu Lin
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Ryota Inoue
- Laboratory of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation (IMCR), Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Azeddine Tahiri
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 01595, USA
| | - Cecilia Colson
- The Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Weikang Cai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA
| | - Jun Shirakawa
- Laboratory of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation (IMCR), Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Wei-Jun Qian
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Jerry Yingtao Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA
| | - Abdelfattah El Ouaamari
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 01595, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 01595, USA
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11
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Barcelon E, Chung S, Lee J, Lee SJ. Sexual Dimorphism in the Mechanism of Pain Central Sensitization. Cells 2023; 12:2028. [PMID: 37626838 PMCID: PMC10453375 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
It has long been recognized that men and women have different degrees of susceptibility to chronic pain. Greater recognition of the sexual dimorphism in chronic pain has resulted in increasing numbers of both clinical and preclinical studies that have identified factors and mechanisms underlying sex differences in pain sensitization. Here, we review sexually dimorphic pain phenotypes in various research animal models and factors involved in the sex difference in pain phenotypes. We further discuss putative mechanisms for the sexual dimorphism in pain sensitization, which involves sex hormones, spinal cord microglia, and peripheral immune cells. Elucidating the sexually dimorphic mechanism of pain sensitization may provide important clinical implications and aid the development of sex-specific therapeutic strategies to treat chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellane Barcelon
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (E.B.); (S.C.); (J.L.)
| | - Seohyun Chung
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (E.B.); (S.C.); (J.L.)
| | - Jaesung Lee
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (E.B.); (S.C.); (J.L.)
- Department of Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Joong Lee
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (E.B.); (S.C.); (J.L.)
- Department of Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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12
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Deal B, Phillips K, Crelli C, Janjic JM, Pollock JA. RNA-Seq Reveals Sex Differences in Gene Expression during Peripheral Neuropathic Inflammation and in Pain Relief from a COX-2 Inhibiting Theranostic Nanoemulsion. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119163. [PMID: 37298117 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Given decades of neuroinflammatory pain research focused only on males, there is an urgent need to better understand neuroinflammatory pain in females. This, paired with the fact that currently there is no long-term effective treatment for neuropathic pain furthers the need to evaluate how neuropathic pain develops in both sexes and how it can be relieved. Here we show that chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve caused comparable levels of mechanical allodynia in both sexes. Using a COX-2 inhibiting theranostic nanoemulsion with increased drug loading, both sexes achieved similar reduction in mechanical hypersensitivity. Given that both sexes have improved pain behavior, we specifically explored differential gene expression between sexes in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) during pain and relief. Total RNA from the DRG revealed a sexually dimorphic expression for injury and relief caused by COX-2 inhibition. Of note, both males and females experience increased expression of activating transcription factor 3 (Atf3), however, only the female DRG shows decreased expression following drug treatment. Alternatively, S100A8 and S100A9 expression appear to play a sex specific role in relief in males. The sex differences in RNA expression reveal that comparable behavior does not necessitate the same gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke Deal
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science & Engineering, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
- Chronic Pain Research Consortium, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
| | - Katherine Phillips
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science & Engineering, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
- Chronic Pain Research Consortium, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
| | - Caitlin Crelli
- Chronic Pain Research Consortium, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
| | - Jelena M Janjic
- Chronic Pain Research Consortium, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
| | - John A Pollock
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science & Engineering, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
- Chronic Pain Research Consortium, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
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13
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Agulló L, Muriel J, Margarit C, Escorial M, Garcia D, Herrero MJ, Hervás D, Sandoval J, Peiró AM. Sex Differences in Opioid Response Linked to OPRM1 and COMT genes DNA Methylation/Genotypes Changes in Patients with Chronic Pain. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12103449. [PMID: 37240556 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12103449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Analgesic-response variability in chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) has been reported due to several biological and environmental factors. This study was undertaken to explore sex differences linked to OPRM1 and COMT DNA methylation changes and genetic variants in analgesic response. A retrospective study with 250 real-world CNCP outpatients was performed in which data from demographic, clinical, and pharmacological variables were collected. DNA methylation levels (CpG island) were evaluated by pyrosequencing, and their interaction with the OPRM1 (A118G) and COMT (G472A) gene polymorphisms was studied. A priori-planned statistical analyses were conducted to compare responses between females and males. Sex-differential OPRM1 DNA methylation was observed to be linked to lower opioid use disorder (OUD) cases for females (p = 0.006). Patients with lower OPRM1 DNA methylation and the presence of the mutant G-allele reduced opioid dose requirements (p = 0.001), equal for both sexes. Moreover, COMT DNA methylation levels were negatively related to pain relief (p = 0.020), quality of life (p = 0.046), and some adverse events (probability > 90%) such as constipation, insomnia, or nervousness. Females were, significantly, 5 years older with high anxiety levels and a different side-effects distribution than males. The analyses demonstrated significant differences between females and males related to OPRM1 signalling efficiency and OUD, with a genetic-epigenetic interaction in opioid requirements. These findings support the importance of sex as a biological variable to be factored into chronic pain-management studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Agulló
- Pharmacogenetic Unit, Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Dr. Balmis General University Hospital, Pintor Baeza, 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology and Chemical Safety Unit, Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernández University, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Javier Muriel
- Pharmacogenetic Unit, Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Dr. Balmis General University Hospital, Pintor Baeza, 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain
| | - César Margarit
- Pain Unit, Department of Health of Alicante, Dr. Balmis General University Hospital, c/Pintor Baeza, 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain
| | - Mónica Escorial
- Pharmacogenetic Unit, Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Dr. Balmis General University Hospital, Pintor Baeza, 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology and Chemical Safety Unit, Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernández University, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Diana Garcia
- Epigenomics Core Facility, La Fe Health Research Institute, Ave. Fernando Abril Martorell, 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - María José Herrero
- Pharmacogenetics Unit, La Fe Health Research Institute, Ave. Fernando Abril Martorell, 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - David Hervás
- Department of Applied Statistics and Operations Research and Quality, Universitat Politècnica de Valéncia, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan Sandoval
- Epigenomics Core Facility, La Fe Health Research Institute, Ave. Fernando Abril Martorell, 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana M Peiró
- Pharmacogenetic Unit, Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Dr. Balmis General University Hospital, Pintor Baeza, 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology and Chemical Safety Unit, Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernández University, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Spain
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14
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Cuevas-Diaz Duran R, Li Y, Garza Carbajal A, You Y, Dessauer CW, Wu J, Walters ET. Major Differences in Transcriptional Alterations in Dorsal Root Ganglia Between Spinal Cord Injury and Peripheral Neuropathic Pain Models. J Neurotrauma 2023; 40:883-900. [PMID: 36178348 PMCID: PMC10150729 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic, often intractable, pain is caused by neuropathic conditions such as traumatic peripheral nerve injury (PNI) and spinal cord injury (SCI). These conditions are associated with alterations in gene and protein expression correlated with functional changes in somatosensory neurons having cell bodies in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). Most studies of DRG transcriptional alterations have utilized PNI models where axotomy-induced changes important for neural regeneration may overshadow changes that drive neuropathic pain. Both PNI and SCI produce DRG neuron hyperexcitability linked to pain, but contusive SCI produces little peripheral axotomy or peripheral nerve inflammation. Thus, comparison of transcriptional signatures of DRGs across PNI and SCI models may highlight pain-associated transcriptional alterations in sensory ganglia that do not depend on peripheral axotomy or associated effects such as peripheral Wallerian degeneration. Data from our rat thoracic SCI experiments were combined with meta-analysis of published whole-DRG RNA-seq datasets from prominent rat PNI models. Striking differences were found between transcriptional responses to PNI and SCI, especially in regeneration-associated genes (RAGs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Many transcriptomic changes after SCI also were found after corresponding sham surgery, indicating they were caused by injury to surrounding tissue, including bone and muscle, rather than to the spinal cord itself. Another unexpected finding was of few transcriptomic similarities between rat neuropathic pain models and the only reported transcriptional analysis of human DRGs linked to neuropathic pain. These findings show that DRGs exhibit complex transcriptional responses to central and peripheral neural injury and associated tissue damage. Although only a few genes in DRG cells exhibited similar changes in expression across all the painful conditions examined here, these genes may represent a core set whose transcription in various DRG cell types is sensitive to significant bodily injury, and which may play a fundamental role in promoting neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Cuevas-Diaz Duran
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anibal Garza Carbajal
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yanan You
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
- Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Carmen W. Dessauer
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jiaqian Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
- Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Edgar T. Walters
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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15
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Singh G. Is Chronic Pain as an Autoimmune Disease? Can J Pain 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/24740527.2023.2175205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gurmit Singh
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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16
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Liu J, Wang C, Gao Y, Tian Y, Wang Y, Wang S. Sex-Specific Associations Between Preoperative Chronic Pain and Moderate to Severe Chronic Postoperative Pain in Patients 2 Years After Cardiac Surgery. J Pain Res 2022; 15:4007-4015. [PMID: 36569983 PMCID: PMC9784391 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s384463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose Chronic postoperative pain (CPSP) after cardiac surgery can cause severe health problems. As demonstrated in noncardiac surgeries, preoperative chronic pain can potentially lead to CPSP. However, the association between preoperative chronic pain and CPSP over follow-up in cardiac surgical settings in the context of sex differences is still lacking. This observational study aims to explore the role and sex differences of preoperative chronic pain in the occurrence and development of long-term CPSP and CPSP-related complications after cardiac surgery. Patients and Methods This observational study enrolled 495 patients (35.3% women) who underwent cardiac surgery via median sternotomy in March 2019. Validated questionnaires were delivered to assess preoperative chronic pain and moderate to severe CPSP at 3 and 24 months following surgical procedures. The secondary outcomes included the occurrence of moderate to severe chronic pruritus, sleep disturbance, and daily activities interference at follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression was employed. Results Of 495 patients analyzed, the incidences of preoperative chronic pain (29.7% versus 20.6%) and moderate to severe CPSP (14.8% versus 8.1%) were both higher in females than males. Female sex (P = 0.048) and preoperative chronic pain (P = 0.008) were identified as significant risk factors for CPSP occurrence. However, preoperative chronic pain contributed significantly to CPSP (P = 0.008), sleep disturbance (P =0.047), and daily activities interference (P =0.019) in females, but not in males. Conclusion The 2-year prevalence of moderate to severe CPSP after cardiac surgery was 10.5%. Compared to males, females are more susceptible to CPSP and pain-related outcomes in the long term. In addition, preoperative chronic pain was associated with a higher risk of CPSP in females but not in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center of Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chunrong Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center of Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuchen Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center of Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Tian
- Department of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center of Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuefu Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Yuefu Wang, Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 10 Tieyi Road, Haidian District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-10-88398082, Email
| | - Sudena Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center of Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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17
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Paclitaxel Inhibits KCNQ Channels in Primary Sensory Neurons to Initiate the Development of Painful Peripheral Neuropathy. Cells 2022; 11:cells11244067. [PMID: 36552832 PMCID: PMC9776748 DOI: 10.3390/cells11244067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer patients undergoing paclitaxel infusion usually experience peripheral nerve degeneration and serious neuropathic pain termed paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN). However, alterations in the dose or treatment schedule for paclitaxel do not eliminate PIPN, and no therapies are available for PIPN, despite numerous studies to uncover the mechanisms underlying the development/maintenance of this condition. Therefore, we aimed to uncover a novel mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of PIPN. Clinical studies suggest that acute over excitation of primary sensory neurons is linked to the pathogenesis of PIPN. We found that paclitaxel-induced acute hyperexcitability of primary sensory neurons results from the paclitaxel-induced inhibition of KCNQ potassium channels (mainly KCNQ2), found abundantly in sensory neurons and axons. We found that repeated application of XE-991, a specific KCNQ channel blocker, induced PIPN-like alterations in rats, including mechanical hypersensitivity and degeneration of peripheral nerves, as detected by both morphological and behavioral assays. In contrast, genetic deletion of KCNQ2 from peripheral sensory neurons in mice significantly attenuated the development of paclitaxel-induced peripheral sensory fiber degeneration and chronic pain. These findings may lead to a better understanding of the causes of PIPN and provide an impetus for developing new classes of KCNQ activators for its therapeutic treatment.
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18
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McCombe PA, Hardy TA, Nona RJ, Greer JM. Sex differences in Guillain Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and experimental autoimmune neuritis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1038411. [PMID: 36569912 PMCID: PMC9780466 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1038411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS) and its variants, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP and its variants, are regarded as immune mediated neuropathies. Unlike in many autoimmune disorders, GBS and CIDP are more common in males than females. Sex is not a clear predictor of outcome. Experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) is an animal model of these diseases, but there are no studies of the effects of sex in EAN. The pathogenesis of GBS and CIDP involves immune response to non-protein antigens, antigen presentation through non-conventional T cells and, in CIDP with nodopathy, IgG4 antibody responses to antigens. There are some reported sex differences in some of these elements of the immune system and we speculate that these sex differences could contribute to the male predominance of these diseases, and suggest that sex differences in peripheral nerves is a topic worthy of further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela A. McCombe
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia,*Correspondence: Pamela A. McCombe,
| | - Todd A. Hardy
- Department of Neurology, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia,Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Robert J. Nona
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Judith M. Greer
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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19
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Xu L, Chen Z, Li X, Xu H, Zhang Y, Yang W, Chen J, Zhang S, Xu L, Zhou S, Li G, Yu B, Gu X, Yang J. Integrated analyses reveal evolutionarily conserved and specific injury response genes in dorsal root ganglion. Sci Data 2022; 9:666. [PMID: 36323676 PMCID: PMC9630366 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01783-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Rodent dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is widely used for studying axonal injury. Extensive studies have explored genome-wide profiles on rodent DRGs under peripheral nerve insults. However, systematic integration and exploration of these data still be limited. Herein, we re-analyzed 21 RNA-seq datasets and presented a web-based resource (DRGProfile). We identified 53 evolutionarily conserved injury response genes, including well-known injury genes (Atf3, Npy and Gal) and less-studied transcriptional factors (Arid5a, Csrnp1, Zfp367). Notably, we identified species-preference injury response candidates (e.g. Gpr151, Lipn, Anxa10 in mice; Crisp3, Csrp3, Vip, Hamp in rats). Temporal profile analysis reveals expression patterns of genes related to pre-regenerative and regenerating states. Finally, we found a large sex difference in response to sciatic nerve injury, and identified four male-specific markers (Uty, Eif2s3y, Kdm5d, Ddx3y) expressed in DRG. Our study provides a comprehensive integrated landscape for expression change in DRG upon injury which will greatly contribute to the neuroscience community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lian Xu
- grid.260483.b0000 0000 9530 8833Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Province, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 19# Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001 China
| | - Zhifeng Chen
- grid.260483.b0000 0000 9530 8833Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Province, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 19# Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001 China
| | - Xiaodi Li
- grid.410745.30000 0004 1765 1045Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Xu
- grid.260483.b0000 0000 9530 8833Nantong Institute of Genetics and Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu China
| | - Yu Zhang
- grid.410745.30000 0004 1765 1045Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Weiwei Yang
- grid.410745.30000 0004 1765 1045Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Chen
- grid.260483.b0000 0000 9530 8833Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Province, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 19# Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001 China
| | - Shuqiang Zhang
- grid.260483.b0000 0000 9530 8833Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Province, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 19# Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001 China
| | - Lingchi Xu
- grid.260483.b0000 0000 9530 8833Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Province, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 19# Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001 China
| | - Songlin Zhou
- grid.260483.b0000 0000 9530 8833Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Province, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 19# Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001 China
| | - Guicai Li
- grid.260483.b0000 0000 9530 8833Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Province, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 19# Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001 China
| | - Bin Yu
- grid.260483.b0000 0000 9530 8833Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Province, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 19# Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001 China
| | - Xiaosong Gu
- grid.260483.b0000 0000 9530 8833Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Province, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 19# Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001 China ,grid.410745.30000 0004 1765 1045Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian Yang
- grid.260483.b0000 0000 9530 8833Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Province, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 19# Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001 China
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20
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Chernov AV, Shubayev VI. Sexual dimorphism of early transcriptional reprogramming in degenerating peripheral nerves. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1029278. [DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1029278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism is a powerful yet understudied factor that influences the timing and efficiency of gene regulation in axonal injury and repair processes in the peripheral nervous system. Here, we identified common and distinct biological processes in female and male degenerating (distal) nerve stumps based on a snapshot of transcriptional reprogramming 24 h after axotomy reflecting the onset of early phase Wallerian degeneration (WD). Females exhibited transcriptional downregulation of a larger number of genes than males. RhoGDI, ERBB, and ERK5 signaling pathways increased activity in both sexes. Males upregulated genes and canonical pathways that exhibited robust baseline expression in females in both axotomized and sham nerves, including signaling pathways controlled by neuregulin and nerve growth factors. Cholesterol biosynthesis, reelin signaling, and synaptogenesis signaling pathways were downregulated in females. Signaling by Rho Family GTPases, cAMP-mediated signaling, and sulfated glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis were downregulated in both sexes. Estrogens potentially influenced sex-dependent injury response due to distinct regulation of estrogen receptor expression. A crosstalk of cytokines and growth hormones could promote sexually dimorphic transcriptional responses. We highlighted prospective regulatory activities due to protein phosphorylation, extracellular proteolysis, sex chromosome-specific expression, major urinary proteins (MUPs), and genes involved in thyroid hormone metabolism. Combined with our earlier findings in the corresponding dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and regenerating (proximal) nerve stumps, sex-specific and universal early phase molecular triggers of WD enrich our knowledge of transcriptional regulation in peripheral nerve injury and repair.
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21
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Wood KL, Fonseca MIA, Gunderson KA, Nkana ZH, Israel JS, Poore SO, Dingle AM. Local Environment Induces Differential Gene Expression in Regenerating Nerves. J Surg Res 2022; 278:418-432. [PMID: 35618492 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2022.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Approximately 80% of amputations are complicated by neuromas. Methods for neuroma management include nerve translocation into bone and implantation into skeletal muscle grafts, which have also facilitated the development of regenerative neural interfaces to enable fixation of prosthetics with motor and sensory feedback. However, molecular-level differences between nerves in these environments have not been investigated. This study aimed to elucidate the physiology of regenerating nerves in different settings by assessing gene expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS New Zealand white rabbits underwent transfemoral amputation with sciatic nerve transposition into the femur or tacked to skeletal muscle. At 5 wk, ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing of samples of distal nerve terminating in bone or muscle and nerve of the contralateral limb (control) identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and biochemical pathways (α = 0.05). RESULTS Three samples of nerve housed in bone, four of nerve tacked to muscle, and seven naïve controls were analyzed. Relative to controls, nerve housed in bone had little within-group variation and 13,028 DEGs, and nerve tacked to muscle had dramatic within-group variation and 12,811 DEGs. These samples upregulated the following pathways: lysosome, phagosome, antigen processing/presentation, and cell adhesion molecule. Relative to nerve housed in bone, nerve tacked to muscle had 12,526 DEGs, demonstrating upregulation of pathways of B-cell receptor signaling, focal adhesion, natural killer-cell mediated cytotoxicity, leukocyte transendothelial migration, and extracellular matrix-receptor interactions. CONCLUSIONS Nerve housed in bone has a more predictable molecular profile than does nerve tacked to muscle. Thus, the intramedullary canal may provide a more reliable setting for neuroma prevention and neural interfacing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasey Leigh Wood
- Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Marina I Adrianzen Fonseca
- Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Kirsten A Gunderson
- Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Zeeda H Nkana
- Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Jacqueline S Israel
- Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Samuel O Poore
- Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Aaron M Dingle
- Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
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22
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Rangan P, Lobo F, Parrella E, Rochette N, Morselli M, Stephen TL, Cremonini AL, Tagliafico L, Persia A, Caffa I, Monacelli F, Odetti P, Bonfiglio T, Nencioni A, Pigliautile M, Boccardi V, Mecocci P, Pike CJ, Cohen P, LaDu MJ, Pellegrini M, Xia K, Tran K, Ann B, Chowdhury D, Longo VD. Fasting-mimicking diet cycles reduce neuroinflammation to attenuate cognitive decline in Alzheimer's models. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111417. [PMID: 36170815 PMCID: PMC9648488 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) cycles in reducing many aging and disease risk factors indicate it could affect Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we show that FMD cycles reduce cognitive decline and AD pathology in E4FAD and 3xTg AD mouse models, with effects superior to those caused by protein restriction cycles. In 3xTg mice, long-term FMD cycles reduce hippocampal Aβ load and hyperphosphorylated tau, enhance genesis of neural stem cells, decrease microglia number, and reduce expression of neuroinflammatory genes, including superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase (Nox2). 3xTg mice lacking Nox2 or mice treated with the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin also display improved cognition and reduced microglia activation compared with controls. Clinical data indicate that FMD cycles are feasible and generally safe in a small group of AD patients. These results indicate that FMD cycles delay cognitive decline in AD models in part by reducing neuroinflammation and/or superoxide production in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Rangan
- Longevity Institute, School of Gerontology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA
| | - Fleur Lobo
- Longevity Institute, School of Gerontology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA
| | - Edoardo Parrella
- Longevity Institute, School of Gerontology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA; Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia, BS 25123, Italy
| | - Nicolas Rochette
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, University of California, Los Angeles, 611 Charles E. Young Dr. E., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, 612 Charles E. Young Dr. E., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Marco Morselli
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Dr. S., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, University of California, Los Angeles, 611 Charles E. Young Dr. E., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Terri-Leigh Stephen
- Longevity Institute, School of Gerontology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA
| | - Anna Laura Cremonini
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 6, Genova, GE 16132, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Tagliafico
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 6, Genova, GE 16132, Italy
| | - Angelica Persia
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 6, Genova, GE 16132, Italy
| | - Irene Caffa
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 6, Genova, GE 16132, Italy
| | - Fiammetta Monacelli
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 6, Genova, GE 16132, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Patrizio Odetti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 6, Genova, GE 16132, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Tommaso Bonfiglio
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 6, Genova, GE 16132, Italy
| | - Alessio Nencioni
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 6, Genova, GE 16132, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Martina Pigliautile
- Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Virginia Boccardi
- Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Patrizia Mecocci
- Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Christian J Pike
- Longevity Institute, School of Gerontology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA
| | - Pinchas Cohen
- Longevity Institute, School of Gerontology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA; USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3551 Trousdale Pkwy., Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA
| | - Mary Jo LaDu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Dr. S., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, University of California, Los Angeles, 611 Charles E. Young Dr. E., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kyle Xia
- Longevity Institute, School of Gerontology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA
| | - Katelynn Tran
- Longevity Institute, School of Gerontology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA
| | - Brandon Ann
- Longevity Institute, School of Gerontology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA
| | - Dolly Chowdhury
- Longevity Institute, School of Gerontology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA
| | - Valter D Longo
- Longevity Institute, School of Gerontology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1425 San Pablo St., Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; IFOM FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Via Adamello 16, Milano, MI 20139, Italy.
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23
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Chernov AV, Shubayev VI. Sexually dimorphic transcriptional programs of early-phase response in regenerating peripheral nerves. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:958568. [PMID: 35983069 PMCID: PMC9378824 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.958568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The convergence of transcriptional and epigenetic changes in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) reshapes the spatiotemporal gene expression landscape in response to nerve transection. The control of these molecular programs exhibits sexually dimorphic characteristics that remain not sufficiently characterized. In the present study, we recorded genome-wide and sex-dependent early-phase transcriptional changes in regenerating (proximal) sciatic nerve 24 h after axotomy. Male nerves exhibited more extensive transcriptional changes with male-dominant upregulation of cytoskeletal binding and structural protein genes. Regulation of mRNAs encoding ion and ionotropic neurotransmitter channels displayed prominent sexual dimorphism consistent with sex-specific mRNA axonal transport in an early-phase regenerative response. Protein kinases and axonal transport genes showed sexually dimorphic regulation. Genes encoding components of synaptic vesicles were at high baseline expression in females and showed post-injury induction selectively in males. Predictive bioinformatic analyses established patterns of sexually dimorphic regulation of neurotrophic and immune genes, including activation of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor Gfra1 receptor and immune checkpoint cyclin D1 (Ccnd1) potentially linked to X-chromosome encoded tissue inhibitor of matrix metallo proteinases 1 (Timp1). Regulatory networks involving Olig1, Pou3f3/Oct6, Myrf, and Myt1l transcription factors were linked to sex-dependent reprogramming in regenerating nerves. Differential expression patterns of non-coding RNAs motivate a model of sexually dimorphic nerve regenerative responses to injury determined by epigenetic factors. Combined with our findings in the corresponding dorsal root ganglia (DRG), unique early-phase sex-specific molecular triggers could enrich the mechanistic understanding of peripheral neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei V. Chernov
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Andrei V. Chernov,
| | - Veronica I. Shubayev
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
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24
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Mun S, Han K, Hyun JK. The Time Sequence of Gene Expression Changes after Spinal Cord Injury. Cells 2022; 11:cells11142236. [PMID: 35883679 PMCID: PMC9324287 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene expression changes following spinal cord injury (SCI) are time-dependent, and an accurate understanding of these changes can be crucial in determining time-based treatment options in a clinical setting. We performed RNA sequencing of the contused spinal cord of rats at five different time points from the very acute to chronic stages (1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months) following SCI. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and Gene Ontology (GO) terms at each time point, and 14,257 genes were commonly expressed at all time points. The biological process of the inflammatory response was increased at 1 hour and 1 day, and the cellular component of the integral component of the synaptic membrane was increased at 1 day. DEGs associated with cell activation and the innate immune response were highly enriched at 1 week and 1 month, respectively. A total of 2841 DEGs were differentially expressed at any of the five time points, and 18 genes (17 upregulated and 1 downregulated) showed common expression differences at all time points. We found that interleukin signaling, neutrophil degranulation, eukaryotic translation, collagen degradation, LGI–ADAM interactions, GABA receptor, and L1CAM-ankyrin interactions were prominent after SCI depending on the time post injury. We also performed gene–drug network analysis and found several potential antagonists and agonists which can be used to treat SCI. We expect to discover effective treatments in the clinical field through further studies revealing the efficacy and safety of potential drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyoung Mun
- Department of Nanobiomedical Science & BK21 NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea;
- Center for Bio Medical Engineering Core Facility, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea;
| | - Kyudong Han
- Center for Bio Medical Engineering Core Facility, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea;
- Department of Microbiology, College of Science & Technology, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
| | - Jung Keun Hyun
- Department of Nanobiomedical Science & BK21 NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea;
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
- Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-10-2293-3415
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25
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Pohóczky K, Kun J, Szentes N, Aczél T, Urbán P, Gyenesei A, Bölcskei K, Szőke É, Sensi S, Dénes Á, Goebel A, Tékus V, Helyes Z. Discovery of novel targets in a complex regional pain syndrome mouse model by transcriptomics: TNF and JAK-STAT pathways. Pharmacol Res 2022; 182:106347. [PMID: 35820612 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) represents severe chronic pain, hypersensitivity, and inflammation induced by sensory-immune-vascular interactions after a small injury. Since the therapy is unsatisfactory, there is a great need to identify novel drug targets. Unbiased transcriptomic analysis of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) was performed in a passive transfer-trauma mouse model, and the predicted pathways were confirmed by pharmacological interventions. In the unilateral L3-5 DRGs 125 genes were differentially expressed in response to plantar incision and injecting IgG of CRPS patients. These are related to inflammatory and immune responses, cytokines, chemokines and neuropeptides. Pathway analysis revealed the involvement of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) and Janus kinase (JAK-STAT) signaling. The relevance of these pathways was proven by abolished CRPS IgG-induced hyperalgesia and reduced microglia and astrocyte markers in pain-associated central nervous system regions after treatment with the soluble TNF alpha receptor etanercept or JAK inhibitor tofacitinib. These results provide the first evidence for CRPS-related neuroinflammation and abnormal cytokine signaling at the level of the primary sensory neurons in a translational mouse model and suggest that etanercept and tofacitinib might have drug repositioning potentials for CRPS-related pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krisztina Pohóczky
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - József Kun
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Bioinformatic Research Group, Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility, János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Szentes
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Chronic Pain Research Group, Eötvös Lorand Research Network, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tímea Aczél
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Péter Urbán
- Bioinformatic Research Group, Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility, János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Attila Gyenesei
- Bioinformatic Research Group, Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility, János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Kata Bölcskei
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Éva Szőke
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Chronic Pain Research Group, Eötvös Lorand Research Network, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Serena Sensi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L9 7AL, United Kingdom; Department of Pain Medicine, The Walton Centre National Health Service Foundation Trust, Liverpool L9 7LJ, United Kingdom
| | - Ádám Dénes
- Momentum Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andreas Goebel
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L9 7AL, United Kingdom; Department of Pain Medicine, The Walton Centre National Health Service Foundation Trust, Liverpool L9 7LJ, United Kingdom
| | - Valéria Tékus
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Zsuzsanna Helyes
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; PharmInVivo Ltd., H-7629 Pécs, Hungary; Chronic Pain Research Group, Eötvös Lorand Research Network, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
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26
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Kokotović T, Lenartowicz EM, Langeslag M, Ciotu CI, Fell CW, Scaramuzza A, Fischer MJM, Kress M, Penninger JM, Nagy V. Transcription factor mesenchyme homeobox protein 2 (MEOX2) modulates nociceptor function. FEBS J 2022; 289:3457-3476. [PMID: 35029322 PMCID: PMC9306780 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Mesenchyme homeobox protein 2 (MEOX2) is a transcription factor involved in mesoderm differentiation, including development of bones, muscles, vasculature and dermatomes. We have previously identified dysregulation of MEOX2 in fibroblasts from Congenital Insensitivity to Pain patients, and confirmed that btn, the Drosophila homologue of MEOX2, plays a role in nocifensive responses to noxious heat stimuli. To determine the importance of MEOX2 in the mammalian peripheral nervous system, we used a Meox2 heterozygous (Meox2+/−) mouse model to characterise its function in the sensory nervous system, and more specifically, in nociception. MEOX2 is expressed in the mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord, and localises in the nuclei of a subset of sensory neurons. Functional studies of the mouse model, including behavioural, cellular and electrophysiological analyses, showed altered nociception encompassing impaired action potential initiation upon depolarisation. Mechanistically, we noted decreased expression of Scn9a and Scn11a genes encoding Nav1.7 and Nav1.9 voltage‐gated sodium channels respectively, that are crucial in subthreshold amplification and action potential initiation in nociceptors. Further transcriptomic analyses of Meox2+/− DRG revealed downregulation of a specific subset of genes including those previously associated with pain perception, such as PENK and NPY. Based on these observations, we propose a novel role of MEOX2 in primary afferent nociceptor neurons for the maintenance of a transcriptional programme required for proper perception of acute and inflammatory noxious stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomislav Kokotović
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases Vienna Austria
- CeMM‐Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Vienna Austria
- Department of Neurology Medical University of Vienna Austria
| | | | - Michiel Langeslag
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics Institute of Physiology Medical University of Innsbruck Austria
- Institute of Pharmacy and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI) University of Innsbruck Austria
- Department of Pharmacology Medical University of Innsbruck Austria
| | - Cosmin I. Ciotu
- Institute of Physiology Medical University of Vienna Austria
| | - Christopher W. Fell
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases Vienna Austria
- CeMM‐Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Vienna Austria
- Department of Neurology Medical University of Vienna Austria
| | - Angelica Scaramuzza
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases Vienna Austria
| | | | - Michaela Kress
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics Institute of Physiology Medical University of Innsbruck Austria
| | - Josef M. Penninger
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences VBC – Vienna BioCenter Campus Vienna Austria
- Department of Medical Genetics Life Science Institute University of British Columbia Vancouver Canada
| | - Vanja Nagy
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases Vienna Austria
- CeMM‐Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Vienna Austria
- Department of Neurology Medical University of Vienna Austria
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27
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Carta G, Fornasari BE, Fregnan F, Ronchi G, De Zanet S, Muratori L, Nato G, Fogli M, Gambarotta G, Geuna S, Raimondo S. Neurodynamic Treatment Promotes Mechanical Pain Modulation in Sensory Neurons and Nerve Regeneration in Rats. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061296. [PMID: 35740318 PMCID: PMC9220043 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Somatic nerve injuries are a rising problem leading to disability associated with neuropathic pain commonly reported as mechanical allodynia (MA) and hyperalgesia. These symptoms are strongly dependent on specific processes in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Neurodynamic treatment (NDT), consisting of selective uniaxial nerve repeated tension protocols, effectively reduces pain and disability in neuropathic pain patients even though the biological mechanisms remain poorly characterized. We aimed to define, both in vivo and ex vivo, how NDT could promote nerve regeneration and modulate some processes in the DRG linked to MA and hyperalgesia. Methods: We examined in Wistar rats, after unilateral median and ulnar nerve crush, the therapeutic effects of NDT and the possible protective effects of NDT administered for 10 days before the injury. We adopted an ex vivo model of DRG organotypic explant subjected to NDT to explore the selective effects on DRG cells. Results: Behavioural tests, morphological and morphometrical analyses, and gene and protein expression analyses were performed, and these tests revealed that NDT promotes nerve regeneration processes, speeds up sensory motor recovery, and modulates mechanical pain by affecting, in the DRG, the expression of TACAN, a mechanosensitive receptor shared between humans and rats responsible for MA and hyperalgesia. The ex vivo experiments have shown that NDT increases neurite regrowth and confirmed the modulation of TACAN. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study on the biological and molecular mechanisms induced by NDT will allow the exploration, in future clinical trials, of its efficacy in different conditions of neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Carta
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.C.); (B.E.F.); (G.R.); (S.D.Z.); (L.M.); (G.G.); (S.G.); (S.R.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.N.); (M.F.)
- Department of Rehabilitation, ASST (Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriali) Nord Milano, Sesto San Giovanni Hospital, Sesto San Giovanni, 20099 Milano, Italy
| | - Benedetta Elena Fornasari
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.C.); (B.E.F.); (G.R.); (S.D.Z.); (L.M.); (G.G.); (S.G.); (S.R.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.N.); (M.F.)
| | - Federica Fregnan
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.C.); (B.E.F.); (G.R.); (S.D.Z.); (L.M.); (G.G.); (S.G.); (S.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-(0)1-1670-5433; Fax: +39-(0)1-1903-8639
| | - Giulia Ronchi
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.C.); (B.E.F.); (G.R.); (S.D.Z.); (L.M.); (G.G.); (S.G.); (S.R.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.N.); (M.F.)
| | - Stefano De Zanet
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.C.); (B.E.F.); (G.R.); (S.D.Z.); (L.M.); (G.G.); (S.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Luisa Muratori
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.C.); (B.E.F.); (G.R.); (S.D.Z.); (L.M.); (G.G.); (S.G.); (S.R.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.N.); (M.F.)
| | - Giulia Nato
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.N.); (M.F.)
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Fogli
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.N.); (M.F.)
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Giovanna Gambarotta
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.C.); (B.E.F.); (G.R.); (S.D.Z.); (L.M.); (G.G.); (S.G.); (S.R.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.N.); (M.F.)
| | - Stefano Geuna
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.C.); (B.E.F.); (G.R.); (S.D.Z.); (L.M.); (G.G.); (S.G.); (S.R.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.N.); (M.F.)
| | - Stefania Raimondo
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.C.); (B.E.F.); (G.R.); (S.D.Z.); (L.M.); (G.G.); (S.G.); (S.R.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (G.N.); (M.F.)
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28
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Shishmarev D, Rowland E, Aditya S, Sundararaj S, Oakley AJ, Dulhunty AF, Casarotto MG. Molecular interactions of
STAC
proteins with skeletal muscle dihydropyridine receptor and excitation‐contraction coupling. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4311. [PMID: 35481653 PMCID: PMC9019556 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Excitation‐contraction coupling (ECC) is the physiological process in which an electrical signal originating from the central nervous system is converted into muscle contraction. In skeletal muscle tissue, the key step in the molecular mechanism of ECC initiated by the muscle action potential is the cooperation between two Ca2+ channels, dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR; voltage‐dependent L‐type calcium channel) and ryanodine receptor 1 (RyR1). These two channels were originally postulated to communicate with each other via direct mechanical interactions; however, the molecular details of this cooperation have remained ambiguous. Recently, it has been proposed that one or more supporting proteins are in fact required for communication of DHPR with RyR1 during the ECC process. One such protein that is increasingly believed to play a role in this interaction is the SH3 and cysteine‐rich domain‐containing protein 3 (STAC3), which has been proposed to bind a cytosolic portion of the DHPR α1S subunit known as the II–III loop. In this work, we present direct evidence for an interaction between a small peptide sequence of the II–III loop and several residues within the SH3 domains of STAC3 as well as the neuronal isoform STAC2. Differences in this interaction between STAC3 and STAC2 suggest that STAC3 possesses distinct biophysical features that are potentially important for its physiological interactions with the II–III loop. Therefore, this work demonstrates an isoform‐specific interaction between STAC3 and the II–III loop of DHPR and provides novel insights into a putative molecular mechanism behind this association in the skeletal muscle ECC process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Shishmarev
- John Curtin School of Medical Research Australian National University Canberra Australia
- Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra Australia
| | - Emily Rowland
- John Curtin School of Medical Research Australian National University Canberra Australia
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Shouvik Aditya
- John Curtin School of Medical Research Australian National University Canberra Australia
- Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra Australia
| | - Srinivasan Sundararaj
- John Curtin School of Medical Research Australian National University Canberra Australia
| | - Aaron J. Oakley
- School of Chemistry & Molecular Bioscience and Molecular Horizons University of Wollongong Wollongong Australia
| | - Angela F. Dulhunty
- John Curtin School of Medical Research Australian National University Canberra Australia
| | - Marco G. Casarotto
- Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra Australia
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Presto P, Mazzitelli M, Junell R, Griffin Z, Neugebauer V. Sex differences in pain along the neuraxis. Neuropharmacology 2022; 210:109030. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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The Antinociceptive Potential of Camellia japonica Leaf Extract, (−)-Epicatechin, and Rutin against Chronic Constriction Injury-Induced Neuropathic Pain in Rats. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11020410. [PMID: 35204294 PMCID: PMC8869459 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11020410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system. Currently, prescribed treatments are still unsatisfactory or have limited effectiveness. Camellia japonica leaves are known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.; however, their antinociceptive efficacy has not yet been explored. We examined the antinociceptive efficacy and underlying mechanism of C. japonica leaf extract (CJE) in chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain models. To test the antinociceptive activity of CJE, three types of allodynia were evaluated: punctate allodynia using von Frey filaments, dynamic allodynia using a paintbrush and cotton swab, and cold allodynia using a cold plate test. CCI rats developed neuropathic pain representing increases in the three types of allodynia and spontaneous pain. In addition, CCI rats showed high phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), transcription factors, and nociceptive mediators in dorsal root ganglion (DRG). The ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 levels and neuroinflammation also increased following CCI surgery in the spinal cord. CJE and its active components have potential antinociceptive effects against CCI-induced neuropathic pain that might be mediated by MAPK activation in the DRG and microglial activation in the spinal cord. These findings suggest that CJE, (−)-epicatechin, and rutin could be novel candidates for neuropathic pain management.
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31
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Zhang C, Hu MW, Wang XW, Cui X, Liu J, Huang Q, Cao X, Zhou FQ, Qian J, He SQ, Guan Y. scRNA-sequencing reveals subtype-specific transcriptomic perturbations in DRG neurons of PirtEGFPf mice in neuropathic pain condition. eLife 2022; 11:76063. [PMID: 36264609 PMCID: PMC9584610 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Functionally distinct subtypes/clusters of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons may play different roles in nerve regeneration and pain. However, details about their transcriptomic changes under neuropathic pain conditions remain unclear. Chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve represents a well-established model of neuropathic pain, and we conducted single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to characterize subtype-specific perturbations of transcriptomes in lumbar DRG neurons on day 7 post-CCI. By using PirtEGFPf mice that selectively express an enhanced green fluorescent protein in DRG neurons, we established a highly efficient purification process to enrich neurons for scRNA-seq. We observed the emergence of four prominent CCI-induced clusters and a loss of marker genes in injured neurons. Importantly, a portion of injured neurons from several clusters were spared from injury-induced identity loss, suggesting subtype-specific transcriptomic changes in injured neurons. Moreover, uninjured neurons, which are necessary for mediating the evoked pain, also demonstrated cell-type-specific transcriptomic perturbations in these clusters, but not in others. Notably, male and female mice showed differential transcriptomic changes in multiple neuronal clusters after CCI, suggesting transcriptomic sexual dimorphism in DRG neurons after nerve injury. Using Fgf3 as a proof-of-principle, RNAscope study provided further evidence of increased Fgf3 in injured neurons after CCI, supporting scRNA-seq analysis, and calcium imaging study unraveled a functional role of Fgf3 in neuronal excitability. These findings may contribute to the identification of new target genes and the development of DRG neuron cell-type-specific therapies for optimizing neuropathic pain treatment and nerve regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Ming-Wen Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Xue-Wei Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Xiang Cui
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Qian Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Xu Cao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Feng-Quan Zhou
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States,The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Jiang Qian
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Shao-Qiu He
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Yun Guan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States,Department of Neurological Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
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Chernov AV, Shubayev VI. Sexual Dimorphism of Early Transcriptional Reprogramming in Dorsal Root Ganglia After Peripheral Nerve Injury. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:779024. [PMID: 34966260 PMCID: PMC8710713 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.779024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injury induces genome-wide transcriptional reprogramming of first-order neurons and auxiliary cells of dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Accumulating experimental evidence suggests that onset and mechanistic principles of post-nerve injury processes are sexually dimorphic. We examined largely understudied aspects of early transcriptional events in DRG within 24 h after sciatic nerve axotomy in mice of both sexes. Using high-depth RNA sequencing (>50 million reads/sample) to pinpoint sexually dimorphic changes related to regeneration, immune response, bioenergy, and sensory functions, we identified a higher number of transcriptional changes in male relative to female DRG. In males, the decline in ion channel transcripts was accompanied by the induction of innate immune cascades via TLR, chemokine, and Csf1-receptor axis and robust regenerative programs driven by Sox, Twist1/2, and Pax5/9 transcription factors. Females demonstrated nerve injury-specific transcriptional co-activation of the actinin 2 network. The predicted upstream regulators and interactive networks highlighted the role of novel epigenetic factors and genetic linkage to sex chromosomes as hallmarks of gene regulation post-axotomy. We implicated epigenetic X chromosome inactivation in the regulation of immune response activity uniquely in females. Sexually dimorphic regulation of MMP/ADAMTS metalloproteinases and their intrinsic X-linked regulator Timp1 contributes to extracellular matrix remodeling integrated with pro-regenerative and immune functions. Lexis1 non-coding RNA involved in LXR-mediated lipid metabolism was identified as a novel nerve injury marker. Together, our data identified unique early response triggers of sex-specific peripheral nerve injury regulation to gain mechanistic insights into the origin of female- and male-prevalent sensory neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei V Chernov
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.,VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Veronica I Shubayev
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.,VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
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Molecular Changes in the Dorsal Root Ganglion during the Late Phase of Peripheral Nerve Injury-induced Pain in Rodents: A Systematic Review. Anesthesiology 2021; 136:362-388. [PMID: 34965284 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000004092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
The dorsal root ganglion is widely recognized as a potential target to treat chronic pain. A fundamental understanding of quantitative molecular and genomic changes during the late phase of pain is therefore indispensable. The authors performed a systematic literature review on injury-induced pain in rodent dorsal root ganglions at minimally 3 weeks after injury. So far, slightly more than 300 molecules were quantified on the protein or messenger RNA level, of which about 60 were in more than one study. Only nine individual sequencing studies were performed in which the most up- or downregulated genes varied due to heterogeneity in study design. Neuropeptide Y and galanin were found to be consistently upregulated on both the gene and protein levels. The current knowledge regarding molecular changes in the dorsal root ganglion during the late phase of pain is limited. General conclusions are difficult to draw, making it hard to select specific molecules as a focus for treatment.
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34
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Louwies T, Orock A, Greenwood-Van Meerveld B. Stress-induced visceral pain in female rats is associated with epigenetic remodeling in the central nucleus of the amygdala. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100386. [PMID: 34584907 PMCID: PMC8456109 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress and anxiety contribute to the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a female-predominant disorder of the gut-brain axis, characterized by abdominal pain due to heightened visceral sensitivity. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate in female rats whether epigenetic remodeling in the limbic brain, specifically in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), is a contributing factor in stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity. Our results showed that 1 h exposure to water avoidance stress (WAS) for 7 consecutive days decreased histone acetylation at the GR promoter and increased histone acetylation at the CRH promoter in the CeA. Changes in histone acetylation were mediated by the histone deacetylase (HDAC) SIRT-6 and the histone acetyltransferase CBP, respectively. Administration of the HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) into the CeA prevented stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity through blockade of SIRT-6 mediated histone acetylation at the GR promoter. In addition, HDAC inhibition within the CeA prevented stress-induced histone acetylation of the CRH promoter. Our results suggest that, in females, epigenetic modifications in the limbic brain regulating GR and CRH expression contribute to stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity and offer a potential explanation of how stress can trigger symptoms in IBS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tijs Louwies
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Albert Orock
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Beverley Greenwood-Van Meerveld
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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35
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Jang EH, Bae YH, Yang EM, Gim Y, Suh HJ, Kim S, Park SM, Park JB, Hur EM. Comparing axon regeneration in male and female mice after peripheral nerve injury. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:2874-2887. [PMID: 34510521 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24955] [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: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Axons in the adult mammalian central nervous system fail to regenerate after injury. By contrast, spontaneous axon regeneration occurs in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) due to a supportive PNS environment and an increase in the intrinsic growth potential induced by injury via cooperative activation of multifaceted biological pathways. This study compared axon regeneration and injury responses in C57BL/6 male and female mice after sciatic nerve crush (SNC) injury. The extent of axon regeneration in vivo was indistinguishable in male and female mice when observed at 3 days after SNC injury, and primary dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from injured, male and female mice extended axons to a similar length. Moreover, the induction of selected regeneration-associated genes (RAGs), such as Atf3, Sprr1a, Gap43, Sox11, Jun, Gadd45a, and Smad1 were comparable in male and female DRGs when assessed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, the RNA-seq analysis of male and female DRGs revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in SNC groups compared to sham-operated groups included many common genes associated with neurite outgrowth. However, we also found that a large number of genes in the DEGs were sex dependent, implicating the involvement of distinct gene regulatory network in the two sexes following peripheral nerve injury. In conclusion, we found that male and female mice mounted a comparable axon regeneration response and many RAGs were commonly induced in response to SNC. However, given that many DEGs were sex-dependently expressed, future studies are needed to investigate whether they contribute to peripheral axon regeneration, and if so, to what extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Hae Jang
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yun-Hee Bae
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun Mo Yang
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.,BK21 Four Future Veterinary Medicine Leading Education & Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yunho Gim
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyun-Jun Suh
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Subin Kim
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seong-Min Park
- Department of Cancer Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Bae Park
- Department of Cancer Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea.,Rare Cancer Branch, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Mi Hur
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.,BK21 Four Future Veterinary Medicine Leading Education & Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.,Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
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36
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Stephens KE, Zhou W, Renfro Z, Ji Z, Ji H, Guan Y, Taverna SD. Global gene expression and chromatin accessibility of the peripheral nervous system in animal models of persistent pain. J Neuroinflammation 2021; 18:185. [PMID: 34446036 PMCID: PMC8390277 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-021-02228-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Efforts to understand genetic variability involved in an individual's susceptibility to chronic pain support a role for upstream regulation by epigenetic mechanisms. METHODS To examine the transcriptomic and epigenetic basis of chronic pain that resides in the peripheral nervous system, we used RNA-seq and ATAC-seq of the rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) to identify novel molecular pathways associated with pain hypersensitivity in two well-studied persistent pain models induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve and intra-plantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in rats. RESULTS Our RNA-seq studies identify a variety of biological process related to synapse organization, membrane potential, transmembrane transport, and ion binding. Interestingly, genes that encode transcriptional regulators were disproportionately downregulated in both models. Our ATAC-seq data provide a comprehensive map of chromatin accessibility changes in the DRG. A total of 1123 regions showed changes in chromatin accessibility in one or both models when compared to the naïve and 31 shared differentially accessible regions (DAR)s. Functional annotation of the DARs identified disparate molecular functions enriched for each pain model which suggests that chromatin structure may be altered differently following sciatic nerve injury and hind paw inflammation. Motif analysis identified 17 DNA sequences known to bind transcription factors in the CCI DARs and 33 in the CFA DARs. Two motifs were significantly enriched in both models. CONCLUSIONS Our improved understanding of the changes in chromatin accessibility that occur in chronic pain states may identify regulatory genomic elements that play essential roles in modulating gene expression in the DRG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly E Stephens
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, 13 Children's Way, Slot 512-47, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Center for Epigenetics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Weiqiang Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Zachary Renfro
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, 13 Children's Way, Slot 512-47, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA
| | - Zhicheng Ji
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Hongkai Ji
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yun Guan
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Sean D Taverna
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Center for Epigenetics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Lenert ME, Avona A, Garner KM, Barron LR, Burton MD. Sensory Neurons, Neuroimmunity, and Pain Modulation by Sex Hormones. Endocrinology 2021; 162:bqab109. [PMID: 34049389 PMCID: PMC8237991 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The inclusion of women in preclinical pain studies has become more commonplace in the last decade as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released its "Sex as a Biological Variable" mandate. Presumably, basic researchers have not had a comprehensive understanding about neuroimmune interactions in half of the population and how hormones play a role in this. To date, we have learned that sex hormones contribute to sexual differentiation of the nervous system and sex differences in behavior throughout the lifespan; however, the cycling of sex hormones does not always explain these differences. Here, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of sex differences and how hormones and immune interactions influence sensory neuron activity to contribute to physiology and pain. Neuroimmune mechanisms may be mediated by different cell types in each sex, as the actions of immune cells are sexually dimorphic. Unfortunately, the majority of studies assessing neuronal contributions to immune function have been limited to males, so it is unclear if the mechanisms are similar in females. Finally, pathways that control cellular metabolism, like nuclear receptors, have been shown to play a regulatory role both in pain and inflammation. Overall, communication between the neuroimmune and endocrine systems modulate pain signaling in a sex-dependent manner, but more research is needed to reveal nuances of these mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa E Lenert
- Neuroimmunology and Behavior Laboratory, Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS), Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Amanda Avona
- Neuroimmunology and Behavior Laboratory, Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS), Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Katherine M Garner
- Neuroimmunology and Behavior Laboratory, Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS), Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Luz R Barron
- Neuroimmunology and Behavior Laboratory, Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS), Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Michael D Burton
- Neuroimmunology and Behavior Laboratory, Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS), Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
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Spared Nerve Injury Causes Sexually Dimorphic Mechanical Allodynia and Differential Gene Expression in Spinal Cords and Dorsal Root Ganglia in Rats. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:5396-5419. [PMID: 34331199 PMCID: PMC8497331 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02447-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is more prevalent in women. However, females are under-represented in animal experiments, and the mechanisms of sex differences remain inadequately understood. We used the spared nerve injury (SNI) model in rats to characterize sex differences in pain behaviour, unbiased RNA-Seq and proteomics to study the mechanisms. Male and female rats were subjected to SNI- and sham-surgery. Mechanical and cold allodynia were assessed. Ipsilateral lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord (SC) segments were collected for RNA-seq analysis with DESeq2 on Day 7. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples for proteomic analysis and DRGs and SCs for analysis of IB-4 and CGRP, and IBA1 and GFAP, respectively, were collected on Day 21. Females developed stronger mechanical allodynia. There were no differences between the sexes in CGRP and IB-4 in the DRG or glial cell markers in the SC. No CSF protein showed change following SNI. DRG and SC showed abundant changes in gene expression. Sexually dimorphic responses were found in genes related to T-cells (cd28, ctla4, cd274, cd4, prf1), other immunological responses (dpp4, c5a, cxcr2 and il1b), neuronal transmission (hrh3, thbs4, chrna4 and pdyn), plasticity (atf3, c1qc and reg3b), and others (bhlhe22, mcpt1l, trpv6). We observed significantly stronger mechanical allodynia in females and numerous sexually dimorphic changes in gene expression following SNI in rats. Several genes have previously been linked to NP, while some are novel. Our results suggest gene targets for further studies in the development of new, possibly sex-specific, therapies for NP.
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Contribution of colony-stimulating factor 1 to neuropathic pain. Pain Rep 2021; 6:e883. [PMID: 33981926 PMCID: PMC8108585 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000000883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular and cellular interactions among spinal dorsal horn neurons and microglia, the resident macrophages of the central nervous system, contribute to the induction and maintenance of neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve injury. Emerging evidence also demonstrates that reciprocal interactions between macrophages and nociceptive sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglion contribute to the initiation and persistence of nerve injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity (allodynia). We previously reported that sensory neuron-derived colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1), by engaging the CSF1 receptor (CSF1R) that is expressed by both microglia and macrophages, triggers the nerve injury-induced expansion of both resident microglia in the spinal cord and macrophages in the dorsal root ganglion and induces their respective contributions to the neuropathic pain phenotype. Here, we review recent research and discuss unanswered questions regarding CSF1/CSF1R-mediated microglial and macrophage signaling in the generation of neuropathic pain.
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40
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Cho C, Deol HK, Martin LJ. Bridging the Translational Divide in Pain Research: Biological, Psychological and Social Considerations. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:603186. [PMID: 33935700 PMCID: PMC8082136 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.603186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A gap exists between translating basic science research into effective pain therapies in humans. While preclinical pain research has primarily used animal models to understand biological processes, a lesser focus has been toward using animal models to fully consider other components of the pain experience, such as psychological and social influences. Herein, we provide an overview of translational studies within pain research by breaking them down into purely biological, psychological and social influences using a framework derived from the biopsychosocial model. We draw from a wide landscape of studies to illustrate that the pain experience is highly intricate, and every attempt must be made to address its multiple components and interactors to aid in fully understanding its complexity. We highlight our work where we have developed animal models to assess the cognitive and social effects on pain modulation while conducting parallel experiments in people that provide proof-of-importance for human pain modulation. In some instances, human pain research has sparked the development of novel animal models, with these animal models used to better understand the complexity of phenomena considered to be uniquely human such as placebo responses and empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chulmin Cho
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Harashdeep K Deol
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Loren J Martin
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
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Gould SA, White M, Wilbrey AL, Pór E, Coleman MP, Adalbert R. Protection against oxaliplatin-induced mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity in Sarm1 -/- mice. Exp Neurol 2021; 338:113607. [PMID: 33460644 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common dose-limiting side effect of cancer treatment, often associated with degeneration of sensory axons or their terminal regions. Presence of the slow Wallerian degeneration protein (WLDS), or genetic deletion of sterile alpha and TIR motif containing protein 1 (SARM1), which strongly protect axons from degeneration after injury or axonal transport block, alleviate pain in several CIPN models. However, oxaliplatin can cause an acute pain response, suggesting a different mechanism of pain generation. Here, we tested whether the presence of WLDS or absence of SARM1 protects against acute oxaliplatin-induced pain in mice after a single oxaliplatin injection. In BL/6 and WldS mice, oxaliplatin induced significant mechanical and cold hypersensitivities which were absent in Sarm1-/- mice. Despite the presence of hypersensitivity there was no significant loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENFs) in the footpads of any mice after oxaliplatin treatment, suggesting that early stages of pain hypersensitivity could be independent of axon degeneration. To identify other changes that could underlie the pain response, RNA sequencing was carried out in DRGs from treated and control mice of each genotype. Sarm1-/- mice had fewer gene expression changes than either BL/6 or WldS mice. This is consistent with the pain measurements in demonstrating that Sarm1-/- DRGs remain relatively unchanged after oxaliplatin treatment, unlike those in BL/6 and WldS mice. Changes in levels of four transcripts - Alas2, Hba-a1, Hba-a2, and Tfrc - correlated with oxaliplatin-induced pain, or absence thereof, across the three genotypes. Our findings suggest that targeting SARM1 could be a viable therapeutic approach to prevent oxaliplatin-induced acute neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey Anne Gould
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthew White
- The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK; Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Anna L Wilbrey
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Erzsébet Pór
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged H-6724, Hungary
| | - Michael Philip Coleman
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Robert Adalbert
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged H-6724, Hungary.
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42
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Tran EL, Crawford LK. Revisiting PNS Plasticity: How Uninjured Sensory Afferents Promote Neuropathic Pain. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:612982. [PMID: 33362476 PMCID: PMC7759741 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.612982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the widespread study of how injured nerves contribute to chronic pain, there are still major gaps in our understanding of pain mechanisms. This is particularly true of pain resulting from nerve injury, or neuropathic pain, wherein tactile or thermal stimuli cause painful responses that are particularly difficult to treat with existing therapies. Curiously, this stimulus-driven pain relies upon intact, uninjured sensory neurons that transmit the signals that are ultimately sensed as painful. Studies that interrogate uninjured neurons in search of cell-specific mechanisms have shown that nerve injury alters intact, uninjured neurons resulting in an activity that drives stimulus-evoked pain. This review of neuropathic pain mechanisms summarizes cell-type-specific pathology of uninjured sensory neurons and the sensory ganglia that house their cell bodies. Uninjured neurons have demonstrated a wide range of molecular and neurophysiologic changes, many of which are distinct from those detected in injured neurons. These intriguing findings include expression of pain-associated molecules, neurophysiological changes that underlie increased excitability, and evidence that intercellular signaling within sensory ganglia alters uninjured neurons. In addition to well-supported findings, this review also discusses potential mechanisms that remain poorly understood in the context of nerve injury. This review highlights key questions that will advance our understanding of the plasticity of sensory neuron subpopulations and clarify the role of uninjured neurons in developing anti-pain therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily L Tran
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI, United States
| | - LaTasha K Crawford
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI, United States
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43
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Aishwarya S, Gunasekaran K, Margret AA. Computational gene expression profiling in the exploration of biomarkers, non-coding functional RNAs and drug perturbagens for COVID-19. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 40:3681-3696. [PMID: 33228475 PMCID: PMC7754930 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1850360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global health crisis that is being endured with an increased alarm of transmission each day. Though the pandemic has activated innumerable research attention to decipher an antidote, fundamental understanding of the molecular mechanisms is necessary to halt the disease progression. The study focused on comparison of the COVID-19 infected lung tissue gene expression datasets -GSE155241 and GSE150316 with the GEO2R-limma package. The significant up- and downregulated genes were annotated. Further evaluation of the enriched pathways, transcription factors, kinases, noncoding RNAs and drug perturbations revealed the significant molecular mechanisms of the host response. The results revealed a surge in mitochondrial respiration, cytokines, neurodegenerative mechanisms and deprived oxygen, iron, copper, and glucose transport. Hijack of ubiquitination by SARS-CoV-2, hox gene differentiation, histone modification, and miRNA biogenesis were the notable molecular mechanisms inferred. Long non-coding RNAs such as C058791.1, TTTY15 and TPTEP1 were predicted to be efficient in regulating the disease mechanisms. Drugs-F-1566-0341, Digoxin, Proscillaridin and Linifanib that reverse the gene expression signatures were predicted from drug perturbations analysis. The binding efficiency and interaction of proscillaridin and digoxin as obtained from the molecular docking studies confirmed their therapeutic potential. Two overlapping upregulated genes MDH1, SGCE and one downregulated gene PFKFB3 were appraised as potential biomarkers candidates. The upregulation of PGM5, ISLR and ANK2 as measured from their expressions in normal lungs affirmed their possible prognostic biomarker competence. The study explored significant insights for better diagnosis, and therapeutic options for COVID-19. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
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Affiliation(s)
- S Aishwarya
- Department of Bioinformatics, Stella Maris College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.,Centre of Advanced Study in Crystallography and Biophysics, University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - K Gunasekaran
- Centre of Advanced Study in Crystallography and Biophysics, University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - A Anita Margret
- Department of Biotechnology, Bishop Heber College, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
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44
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Linher-Melville K, Shah A, Singh G. Sex differences in neuro(auto)immunity and chronic sciatic nerve pain. Biol Sex Differ 2020; 11:62. [PMID: 33183347 PMCID: PMC7661171 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-020-00339-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain occurs with greater frequency in women, with a parallel sexually dimorphic trend reported in sufferers of many autoimmune diseases. There is a need to continue examining neuro-immune-endocrine crosstalk in the context of sexual dimorphisms in chronic pain. Several phenomena in particular need to be further explored. In patients, autoantibodies to neural antigens have been associated with sensory pathway hyper-excitability, and the role of self-antigens released by damaged nerves remains to be defined. In addition, specific immune cells release pro-nociceptive cytokines that directly influence neural firing, while T lymphocytes activated by specific antigens secrete factors that either support nerve repair or exacerbate the damage. Modulating specific immune cell populations could therefore be a means to promote nerve recovery, with sex-specific outcomes. Understanding biological sex differences that maintain, or fail to maintain, neuroimmune homeostasis may inform the selection of sex-specific treatment regimens, improving chronic pain management by rebalancing neuroimmune feedback. Given the significance of interactions between nerves and immune cells in the generation and maintenance of neuropathic pain, this review focuses on sex differences and possible links with persistent autoimmune activity using sciatica as an example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Linher-Melville
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anita Shah
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gurmit Singh
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
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Molecular Mechanisms of Sex-Related Differences in Arthritis and Associated Pain. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21217938. [PMID: 33114670 PMCID: PMC7663489 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical conditions leading to chronic pain show important sex-related differences in the prevalence, severity, and degree of functional disability. Decades of epidemiological and clinical studies have demonstrated that women are more sensitive to pain than men. Arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA), is much more prevalent in females and accounts for the majority of pain arising from musculoskeletal conditions. It is therefore important to understand the mechanisms governing sex-dependent differences in chronic pain, including arthritis pain. However, research into the mechanisms underlying the sex-related differences in arthritis-induced pain is still in its infancy due to the bias in biomedical research performed largely in male subjects and animals. In this review, we discuss current advances in both clinical and preclinical research regarding sex-related differences in the development or severity of arthritis and associated pain. In addition, sex-related differences in biological and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of arthritis pain, elucidated based on clinical and preclinical findings, are reviewed.
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46
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Mosley GE, Wang M, Nasser P, Lai A, Charen DA, Zhang B, Iatridis JC. Males and females exhibit distinct relationships between intervertebral disc degeneration and pain in a rat model. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15120. [PMID: 32934258 PMCID: PMC7492468 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72081-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Back pain is linked to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, but clinical studies show the relationship is complex. This study assessed whether males and females have distinct relationships between IVD degeneration and pain using an in vivo rat model. Forty-eight male and female Sprague-Dawley rats had lumbar IVD puncture or sham surgery. Six weeks after surgery, IVDs were evaluated by radiologic IVD height, histological grading, and biomechanical testing. Pain was assessed by von Frey assay and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) expression of Calca and Tac1 genes. Network analysis visualized which measures of IVD degeneration most related to pain by sex. In both females and males, annular puncture induced structural IVD degeneration, but functional biomechanical properties were similar to sham. Females and males had distinct differences in mechanical allodynia and DRG gene expression, even though sex differences in IVD measurements were limited. Network analysis also differed by sex, with more associations between annular puncture injury and pain in the male network. Sex differences exist in the interactions between IVD degeneration and pain. Limited correlation between measures of pain and IVD degeneration highlights the need to evaluate pain or nociception in IVD degeneration models to better understand nervous system involvement in discogenic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace E Mosley
- Leni and Peter W. May Department of Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave Levy, Place, Box 1188, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Minghui Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Philip Nasser
- Leni and Peter W. May Department of Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave Levy, Place, Box 1188, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA
| | - Alon Lai
- Leni and Peter W. May Department of Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave Levy, Place, Box 1188, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA
| | - Daniel A Charen
- Leni and Peter W. May Department of Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave Levy, Place, Box 1188, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - James C Iatridis
- Leni and Peter W. May Department of Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave Levy, Place, Box 1188, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA.
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47
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Franco-Enzástiga Ú, García G, Murbartián J, González-Barrios R, Salinas-Abarca AB, Sánchez-Hernández B, Tavares-Ferreira D, Herrera LA, Barragán-Iglesias P, Delgado-Lezama R, Price TJ, Granados-Soto V. Sex-dependent pronociceptive role of spinal α 5 -GABA A receptor and its epigenetic regulation in neuropathic rodents. J Neurochem 2020; 156:897-916. [PMID: 32750173 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Extrasynaptic α5 -subunit containing GABAA (α5 -GABAA ) receptors participate in chronic pain. Previously, we reported a sex difference in the action of α5 -GABAA receptors in dysfunctional pain. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to examine this sexual dimorphism in neuropathic rodents and the mechanisms involved. Female and male Wistar rats or ICR mice were subjected to nerve injury followed by α5 -GABAA receptor inverse agonist intrathecal administration, L-655,708. The drug produced an antiallodynic effect in nerve-injured female rats and mice, and a lower effect in males. We hypothesized that changes in α5 -GABAA receptor, probably influenced by hormonal and epigenetic status, might underlie this sex difference. Thus, we performed qPCR and western blot. Nerve injury increased α5 -GABAA mRNA and protein in female dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and decreased them in DRG and spinal cord of males. To investigate the hormonal influence over α5 -GABAA receptor actions, we performed nerve injury to ovariectomized rats and reconstituted them with 17β-estradiol (E2). Ovariectomy abrogated L-655,708 antiallodynic effect and E2 restored it. Ovariectomy decreased α5 -GABAA receptor and estrogen receptor α protein in DRG of neuropathic female rats, while E2 enhanced them. Since DNA methylation might contribute to α5 -GABAA receptor down-regulation in males, we examined CpG island DNA methylation of α5 -GABAA receptor coding gene through pyrosequencing. Nerve injury increased methylation in male, but not female rats. Pharmacological inhibition of DNA methyltransferases increased α5 -GABAA receptor and enabled L-655,708 antinociceptive effect in male rats. These results suggest that α5 -GABAA receptor is a suitable target to treat chronic pain in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Úrzula Franco-Enzástiga
- Neurobiology of Pain Laboratory, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe García
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Janet Murbartián
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Ana B Salinas-Abarca
- Neurobiology of Pain Laboratory, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Beatriz Sánchez-Hernández
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Diana Tavares-Ferreira
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Luis A Herrera
- Cancer Biomedical Research Unit, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Paulino Barragán-Iglesias
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for Basic Sciences, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - Rodolfo Delgado-Lezama
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Cinvestav, Zacatenco, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Theodore J Price
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Vinicio Granados-Soto
- Neurobiology of Pain Laboratory, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
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48
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Chen Y, Navratilova E, Dodick DW, Porreca F. An Emerging Role for Prolactin in Female-Selective Pain. Trends Neurosci 2020; 43:635-648. [PMID: 32620290 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Women experience many pain conditions more frequently when compared with men, but the biological mechanisms underlying sex differences in pain remain poorly understood. In particular, little is known about possible sex differences in peripheral nociceptors, the fundamental building blocks of pain transmission. Emerging evidence reveals that prolactin (PRL) signaling at its cognate prolactin receptor (PRLR) in primary afferents promotes nociceptor sensitization and pain in a female-selective fashion. In this review, we summarize recent progress in understanding the female-selective role of PRL/PRLR in nociceptor sensitization and in pathological pain conditions, including postoperative, inflammatory, neuropathic, and migraine pain, as well as opioid-induced hyperalgesia. The clinical implications of the peripheral PRL/PRLR system for the discovery of new therapies for pain control in women are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxia Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Edita Navratilova
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | | | - Frank Porreca
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA.
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49
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Qualitative sex differences in pain processing: emerging evidence of a biased literature. Nat Rev Neurosci 2020; 21:353-365. [PMID: 32440016 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-020-0310-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 314] [Impact Index Per Article: 78.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although most patients with chronic pain are women, the preclinical literature regarding pain processing and the pathophysiology of chronic pain has historically been derived overwhelmingly from the study of male rodents. This Review describes how the recent adoption by a number of funding agencies of policies mandating the incorporation of sex as a biological variable into preclinical research has correlated with an increase in the number of studies investigating sex differences in pain and analgesia. Trends in the field are analysed, with a focus on newly published findings of qualitative sex differences: that is, those findings that are suggestive of differential processing mechanisms in each sex. It is becoming increasingly clear that robust differences exist in the genetic, molecular, cellular and systems-level mechanisms of acute and chronic pain processing in male and female rodents and humans.
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50
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Neurochemical and Ultrastructural Characterization of Unmyelinated Non-peptidergic C-Nociceptors and C-Low Threshold Mechanoreceptors Projecting to Lamina II of the Mouse Spinal Cord. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2020; 41:247-262. [PMID: 32306148 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-00847-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
C-nociceptors (C-Ncs) and non-nociceptive C-low threshold mechanoreceptors (C-LTMRs) are two subpopulations of small unmyelinated non-peptidergic C-type neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) with central projections displaying a specific pattern of termination in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Although these two subpopulations exist in several animals, remarkable neurochemical differences occur between mammals, particularly rat/humans from one side and mouse from the other. Mouse is widely investigated by transcriptomics. Therefore, we here studied the immunocytochemistry of murine C-type DRG neurons and their central terminals in spinal lamina II at light and electron microscopic levels. We used a panel of markers for peptidergic (CGRP), non-peptidergic (IB4), nociceptive (TRPV1), non-nociceptive (VGLUT3) C-type neurons and two strains of transgenic mice: the TAFA4Venus knock-in mouse to localize the TAFA4+ C-LTMRs, and a genetically engineered ginip mouse that allows an inducible and tissue-specific ablation of the DRG neurons expressing GINIP, a key modulator of GABABR-mediated analgesia. We confirmed that IB4 and TAFA4 did not coexist in small non-peptidergic C-type DRG neurons and separately tagged the C-Ncs and the C-LTMRs. We then showed that TRPV1 was expressed in only about 7% of the IB4+ non-peptidergic C-Ncs and their type Ia glomerular terminals within lamina II. Notably, the selective ablation of GINIP did not affect these neurons, whereas it reduced IB4 labeling in the medial part of lamina II and the density of C-LTMRs glomerular terminals to about one half throughout the entire lamina. We discuss the significance of these findings for interspecies differences and functional relevance.
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