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Takanami K, Kuroiwa M, Ishikawa R, Imai Y, Oishi A, Hashino M, Shimoda Y, Sakamoto H, Koide T. Function of gastrin-releasing peptide receptors in ocular itch transmission in the mouse trigeminal sensory system. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1280024. [PMID: 38098939 PMCID: PMC10719851 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1280024] [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: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis in itchy eyes has increased constantly worldwide owing to environmental pollution. Currently, anti-allergic and antihistaminic eye drops are used; however, there are many unknown aspects about the neural circuits that transmit itchy eyes. We focused on the gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and GRP receptor (GRPR), which are reportedly involved in itch transmission in the spinal somatosensory system, to determine whether the GRP system is involved in itch neurotransmission of the eyes in the trigeminal sensory system. First, the instillation of itch mediators, such as histamine (His) and non-histaminergic itch mediator chloroquine (CQ), exhibited concentration-dependent high levels of eye scratching behavior, with a significant sex differences observed in the case of His. Histological analysis revealed that His and CQ significantly increased the neural activity of GRPR-expressing neurons in the caudal part of the spinal trigeminal nucleus of the medulla oblongata in GRPR transgenic mice. We administered a GRPR antagonist or bombesin-saporin to ablate GRPR-expressing neurons, followed by His or CQ instillation, and observed a decrease in CQ-induced eye-scratching behavior in the toxin experiments. Intracisternal administration of neuromedin C (NMC), a GRPR agonist, resulted in dose-dependent excessive facial scratching behavior, despite the absence of an itch stimulus on the face. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that non-histaminergic itchy eyes were transmitted centrally via GRPR-expressing neurons in the trigeminal sensory system, and that NMC in the medulla oblongata evoked facial itching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Takanami
- Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Mishima, Japan
- Genetics, Research Organization of Information and Systems, Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima, Japan
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Human Life and Environmental Sciences, Nara Women’s University, Nara, Japan
| | - Masaya Kuroiwa
- Department of Materials Science and Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Japan
| | - Ren Ishikawa
- Department of Materials Science and Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Japan
| | - Yuji Imai
- Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Mishima, Japan
- Technical Section, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
| | - Akane Oishi
- Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Mishima, Japan
- Technical Section, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
| | - Midori Hashino
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Human Life and Environmental Sciences, Nara Women’s University, Nara, Japan
| | - Yasushi Shimoda
- Department of Materials Science and Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Sakamoto
- Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Koide
- Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Mishima, Japan
- Genetics, Research Organization of Information and Systems, Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima, Japan
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Structures of human gastrin-releasing peptide receptors bound to antagonist and agonist for cancer and itch therapy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2216230120. [PMID: 36724251 PMCID: PMC9963752 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216230120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrin releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), a member of the bombesin (BBN) G protein-coupled receptors, is aberrantly overexpressed in several malignant tumors, including those of the breast, prostate, pancreas, lung, and central nervous system. Additionally, it also mediates non-histaminergic itch and pathological itch conditions in mice. Thus, GRPR could be an attractive target for cancer and itch therapy. Here, we report the inactive state crystal structure of human GRPR in complex with the non-peptide antagonist PD176252, as well as two active state cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of GRPR bound to the endogenous peptide agonist gastrin-releasing peptide and the synthetic BBN analog [D-Phe6, β-Ala11, Phe13, Nle14] Bn (6-14), in complex with Gq heterotrimers. These structures revealed the molecular mechanisms for the ligand binding, receptor activation, and Gq proteins signaling of GRPR, which are expected to accelerate the structure-based design of GRPR antagonists and agonists for the treatments of cancer and pruritus.
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Katayama Y, Miura A, Sakamoto T, Takanami K, Sakamoto H. Footedness for scratching itchy eyes in rodents. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221126. [PMID: 36259204 PMCID: PMC9579771 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The neural bases of itchy eye transmission remain unclear compared with those involved in body itch. Here, we show in rodents that the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) of the trigeminal sensory system is involved in the transmission of itchy eyes. Interestingly, we further demonstrate a difference in scratching behaviour between the left and right hindfeet in rodents; histamine instillation into the conjunctival sac of both eyes revealed right-foot biased laterality in the scratching movements. Unilateral histamine instillation specifically induced neural activation in the ipsilateral sensory pathway, with no significant difference between the activations following left- and right-eye instillations. Thus, the behavioural laterality is presumably due to right-foot preference in rodents. Genetically modified rats with specific depletion of Grpr-expressing neurons in the trigeminal sensory nucleus caudalis of the medulla oblongata exhibited fewer and shorter histamine-induced scratching movements than controls and eliminated the footedness. These results taken together indicate that the Grpr-expressing neurons are required for the transmission of itch sensation from the eyes, but that foot preference is generated centrally. These findings could open up a new field of research on the mechanisms of the laterality in vertebrates and also offer new potential therapeutic approaches to refractory pruritic eye disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukitoshi Katayama
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Ushimado, Setouchi, Okayama 701-4303, Japan
| | - Ayane Miura
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Ushimado, Setouchi, Okayama 701-4303, Japan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Kita-ku, Tsushimanaka, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Sakamoto
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Ushimado, Setouchi, Okayama 701-4303, Japan
| | - Keiko Takanami
- Mouse Genomics Resources Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Human Life and Environmental Sciences, Nara Women's University, Kitauoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Sakamoto
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Ushimado, Setouchi, Okayama 701-4303, Japan
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Takanami K, Oti T, Kobayashi Y, Hasegawa K, Ito T, Tsutsui N, Ueda Y, Carstens E, Sakamoto T, Sakamoto H. Characterization of the expression of gastrin-releasing peptide and its receptor in the trigeminal and spinal somatosensory systems of Japanese macaque monkeys: Insight into humans. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:2804-2819. [PMID: 35686563 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and its receptor (GRPR) have been identified as itch mediators in the spinal and trigeminal somatosensory systems in rodents. In primates, there are few reports of GRP/GRPR expression or function in the spinal sensory system and virtually nothing is known in the trigeminal system. The aim of the present study was to characterize GRP and GRPR in the trigeminal and spinal somatosensory system of Japanese macaque monkeys (Macaca fuscata). cDNA encoding GRP was isolated from the macaque dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and exhibited an amino acid sequence that was highly conserved among mammals and especially in primates. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that GRP was expressed mainly in the small-sized trigeminal ganglion and DRG in adult macaque monkeys. Densely stained GRP-immunoreactive (ir) fibers were observed in superficial layers of the spinal trigeminal nucleus caudalis (Sp5C) and the spinal cord. In contrast, GRP-ir fibers were rarely observed in the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus and oral and interpolar divisions of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. cDNA cloning, in situ hybridization, and Western blot revealed substantial expression of GRPR mRNA and GRPR protein in the macaque spinal dorsal horn and Sp5C. Our Western ligand blot and ligand derivative stain for GRPR revealed that GRP directly bound in the macaque Sp5C and spinal dorsal horn as reported in rodents. Finally, GRP-ir fibers were also detected in the human spinal dorsal horn. The spinal and trigeminal itch neural circuits labeled with GRP and GRPR appear to function also in primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Takanami
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.,Department of Genetics, Mouse Genomics Resources Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Sokendai (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Shizuoka, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Takumi Oti
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kanagawa University, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yasuhisa Kobayashi
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.,Department of Aquatic Biology, Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara, Japan
| | - Koki Hasegawa
- Center for Instrumental Analysis, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan.,Theranostic Pharmaceuticals Laboratory, Department of Radiological Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Takashi Ito
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Naoaki Tsutsui
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.,Department of Marine Bioresources, Mie University, Mie, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Ueda
- Department of Physiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Earl Carstens
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Tatsuya Sakamoto
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
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The gastrin-releasing peptide/bombesin system revisited by a reverse-evolutionary study considering Xenopus. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13315. [PMID: 34172791 PMCID: PMC8233351 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92528-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bombesin is a putative antibacterial peptide isolated from the skin of the frog, Bombina bombina. Two related (bombesin-like) peptides, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and neuromedin B (NMB) have been found in mammals. The history of GRP/bombesin discovery has caused little attention to be paid to the evolutionary relationship of GRP/bombesin and their receptors in vertebrates. We have classified the peptides and their receptors from the phylogenetic viewpoint using a newly established genetic database and bioinformatics. Here we show, by using a clawed frog (Xenopus tropicalis), that GRP is not a mammalian counterpart of bombesin and also that, whereas the GRP system is widely conserved among vertebrates, the NMB/bombesin system has diversified in certain lineages, in particular in frog species. To understand the derivation of GRP system in the ancestor of mammals, we have focused on the GRP system in Xenopus. Gene expression analyses combined with immunohistochemistry and Western blotting experiments demonstrated that GRP peptides and their receptors are distributed in the brain and stomach of Xenopus. We conclude that GRP peptides and their receptors have evolved from ancestral (GRP-like peptide) homologues to play multiple roles in both the gut and the brain as one of the ‘gut-brain peptide’ systems.
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Barry DM, Liu XT, Liu B, Liu XY, Gao F, Zeng X, Liu J, Yang Q, Wilhelm S, Yin J, Tao A, Chen ZF. Exploration of sensory and spinal neurons expressing gastrin-releasing peptide in itch and pain related behaviors. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1397. [PMID: 32170060 PMCID: PMC7070094 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15230-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) functions as a neurotransmitter for non-histaminergic itch, but its site of action (sensory neurons vs spinal cord) remains controversial. To determine the role of GRP in sensory neurons, we generated a floxed Grp mouse line. We found that conditional knockout of Grp in sensory neurons results in attenuated non-histaminergic itch, without impairing histamine-induced itch. Using a Grp-Cre knock-in mouse line, we show that the upper epidermis of the skin is exclusively innervated by GRP fibers, whose activation via optogeneics and chemogenetics in the skin evokes itch- but not pain-related scratching or wiping behaviors. In contrast, intersectional genetic ablation of spinal Grp neurons does not affect itch nor pain transmission, demonstrating that spinal Grp neurons are dispensable for itch transmission. These data indicate that GRP is a neuropeptide in sensory neurons for non-histaminergic itch, and GRP sensory neurons are dedicated to itch transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin M Barry
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Xue-Ting Liu
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Center for Immunology, Inflammation, Immune-mediated disease, Guangzhou Medical University, 510260, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Benlong Liu
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Xian-Yu Liu
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Fang Gao
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Xiansi Zeng
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, 237 Nanhu Road, 464000, Xinyang, P. R. China
| | - Juan Liu
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Qianyi Yang
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Steven Wilhelm
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Jun Yin
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Ailin Tao
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Center for Immunology, Inflammation, Immune-mediated disease, Guangzhou Medical University, 510260, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Zhou-Feng Chen
- Center for the Study of Itch and Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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