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Deng MY, Cheng J, Gao N, Li XY, Liu H, Wang YX. Dexamethasone attenuates neuropathic pain through spinal microglial expression of dynorphin A via the cAMP/PKA/p38 MAPK/CREB signaling pathway. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 119:36-50. [PMID: 38555991 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.03.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to elucidate the opioid mechanisms underlying dexamethasone-induced pain antihypersensitive effects in neuropathic rats. Dexamethasone (subcutaneous and intrathecal) and membrane-impermeable Dex-BSA (intrathecal) administration dose-dependently inhibited mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in neuropathic rats. Dexamethasone and Dex-BSA treatments increased expression of dynorphin A in the spinal cords and primary cultured microglia. Dexamethasone specifically enhanced dynorphin A expression in microglia but not astrocytes or neurons. Intrathecal injection of the microglial metabolic inhibitor minocycline blocked dexamethasone-stimulated spinal dynorphin A expression; intrathecal minocycline, the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist Dex-21-mesylate, dynorphin A antiserum, and κ-opioid receptor antagonist GNTI completely blocked dexamethasone-induced mechanical antiallodynia and thermal antihyperalgesia. Additionally, dexamethasone elevated spinal intracellular cAMP levels, leading to enhanced phosphorylation of PKA, p38 MAPK and CREB. The specific adenylate cyclase inhibitor DDA, PKA inhibitor H89, p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 and CREB inhibitor KG-501 completely blocked dexamethasone-induced anti-neuropathic pain and increased microglial dynorphin A exprression. In conclusion, this study reveal that dexamethasone mitigateds neuropathic pain through upregulation of dynorphin A in spinal microglia, likely involving the membrane glucocorticoid receptor/cAMP/PKA/p38 MAPK/CREB signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Yan Deng
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; King's Lab, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jing Cheng
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Na Gao
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xin-Yan Li
- King's Lab, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hao Liu
- School of Basic Medical Science, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Yong-Xiang Wang
- King's Lab, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy, Shanghai 200240, China.
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2
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Atta AA, Ibrahim WW, Mohamed AF, Abdelkader NF. Targeting α7-nAChR by galantamine mitigates reserpine-induced fibromyalgia-like symptoms in rats: Involvement of cAMP/PKA, PI3K/AKT, and M1/M2 microglia polarization. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 952:175810. [PMID: 37245858 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a pain disorder marked by generalized musculoskeletal pain accompanied by depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Galantamine (Gal) is a positive allosteric modulator of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and a reversible inhibitor of cholinesterase. The current study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of Gal against reserpine (Res)-induced FM-like condition along with investigating the α7-nAChR's role in Gal-mediated effects. Rats were injected with Res (1 mg/kg/day; sc) for 3 successive days then Gal (5 mg/kg/day; ip) was given alone and with the α7-nAChR blocker methyllycaconitine (3 mg/kg/day; ip), for the subsequent 5 days. Galantamine alleviated Res-induced histopathological changes and monoamines depletion in rats' spinal cord. It also exerted analgesic effect along with ameliorating Res-induced depression and motor-incoordination as confirmed by behavioral tests. Moreover, Gal produced anti-inflammatory effect through modulating AKT1/AKT2 and shifting M1/M2 macrophage polarization. The neuroprotective effects of Gal were mediated through activating cAMP/PKA and PI3K/AKT pathways in α7-nAChR-dependent manner. Thus, Gal can ameliorate Res-induced FM-like symptoms and mitigate the associated monoamines depletion, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and neurodegeneration through α7-nAChR stimulation, with the involvement of cAMP/PKA, PI3K/AKT, and M1/M2 macrophage polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahd A Atta
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini St., 11562, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Weam W Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini St., 11562, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed F Mohamed
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini St., 11562, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Noha F Abdelkader
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini St., 11562, Cairo, Egypt
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Belo TCA, Santos GX, da Silva BEG, Rocha BLG, Abdala DW, Freire LAM, Rocha FS, Galdino G. IL-10/β-Endorphin-Mediated Neuroimmune Modulation on Microglia during Antinociception. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050789. [PMID: 37239261 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050789] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia are glial cells centrally related to pathophysiology and neuroimmunological regulation of pain through microglia-neuron crosstalk mechanisms. In contrast, anti-inflammatory mechanisms guided by immunological effectors such as IL-10 trigger the secretion of analgesic substances, culminating in the differential expression of genes encoding endogenous opioid peptides, especially β-endorphin. Thus, when β-endorphin binds to the µ-opioid receptor, it generates neuronal hyperpolarization, inhibiting nociceptive stimuli. This review aimed to summarize the recent advances in understanding the mechanism by which IL-10/β-endorphin can reduce pain. For this, databases were searched for articles from their inception up until November 2022. Two independent reviewers extracted the data and assessed the methodological quality of the included studies, and seventeen studies were considered eligible for this review. Several studies have demonstrated the impact of IL-10/β-endorphin in reducing pain, where IL-10 can stimulate GLP-1R, GRP40, and α7nAChR receptors, as well as intracellular signaling pathways, such as STAT3, resulting in increased β-endorphin expression and secretion. In addition, molecules such as gabapentinoids, thalidomide, cynandione A, morroniside, lemairamin, and cinobufagin, as well as non-pharmacological treatments such as electroacupuncture, reduce pain through IL-10 mediated mechanisms, reflecting a microglia-dependent β-endorphin differential increase. This process represents a cornerstone in pain neuroimmunology knowledge, and the results obtained by different studies about the theme are presented in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriela Xavier Santos
- Laboratory of Neuroimmunobiology of Pain, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Brazil
| | | | | | - Dennis William Abdala
- Laboratory of Movement Analysis, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Brazil
| | - Larissa Alves Moreira Freire
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Neuroimmunomodulation and Pain Study, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Santos Rocha
- Laboratory of Neuroimmunobiology of Pain, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Brazil
| | - Giovane Galdino
- Laboratory of Neuroimmunobiology of Pain, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Brazil
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Zhang H, Yang Y, Yang E, Tian Z, Huang Y, Zhang Z, Bao M, Liao D, Ge J, Wang C, Li X, Luo P. Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields Protect Against Brain Ischemia by Modulating the Astrocytic Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:1301-1317. [PMID: 35831547 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-022-01251-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is one of the most important pathological processes following brain ischemia. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) protect against brain ischemia, but their role in regulating neuroinflammation remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the biological effects of PEMF exposure on brain ischemia-induced neuroinflammation through the astrocytic cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. PEMF exposure reduced the activation of astrocytes and neuroinflammation following brain ischemia by directly modulating astrocytic injury and inflammatory cytokine release. Inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 7 subunit (α7nAChR) by a specific antagonist reversed the regulatory effects of PEMF on astrocytes. Furthermore, negative regulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) by α7nAChR was found to be an important downstream mechanism through which PEMF regulates astrocyte-related neuroinflammation. PEMF suppressed STAT3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation by activating α7nAChR. These results demonstrate that PEMF exerts anti-inflammatory effects in the context of brain ischemia by modulating astrocytic α7nAChR/STAT3 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haofuzi Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 12769 Changle Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yuefan Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 12769 Changle Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Erwan Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 12769 Changle Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Zhicheng Tian
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 12769 Changle Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yutao Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 12769 Changle Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Zhuoyuan Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 12769 Changle Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.,School of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Mingdong Bao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 12769 Changle Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Dan Liao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 12769 Changle Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Junmiao Ge
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 12769 Changle Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Chao Wang
- School of Electrical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 127 Changle Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 12769 Changle Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.
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Kang S, Kim Y, Kim S, Ko JY, Kim JH. Short and scalable synthesis of cynandione A. Org Biomol Chem 2023; 21:1868-1871. [PMID: 36762547 DOI: 10.1039/d2ob02317b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
A two-step gram-scale synthesis of cynandione A is described. The key to success is the one-pot tandem oxidation/regioselective arylation of 1,4-hydroquinone in the presence of an excess amount of oxidant. Natural bond orbital charge analysis was performed in order to understand the regioselectivity of the arylation step. The highly practical and scalable synthesis developed herein is expected to assist the in-depth biological evaluation of cynandione A in various animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seoungwoo Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yeonjoon Kim
- Chemistry Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Seonah Kim
- Chemistry Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Ju Young Ko
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jae Hyun Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
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Zhou YQ, Liu DQ, Liu C, Xu AJ, Tian YK, Mei W, Tian XB. Targeting α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors for chronic pain. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:970040. [PMID: 36245927 PMCID: PMC9561890 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.970040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite rapid advances in the field of chronic pain, it remains extremely challenging in the clinic. Pain treatment strategies have not improved for decades as opioids remain the main prescribed drugs for chronic pain management. However, long-term use of opioids often leads to detrimental side effects. Therefore, uncovering the mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of chronic pain may aid the discovery of novel therapeutics to benefit patients with chronic pain. Substantial evidence indicates downregulation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7 nAChR) in the sciatic nerve, dorsal root ganglia, and spinal cord dorsal horn in rodent models of chronic pain. Moreover, our recent study and results from other laboratories demonstrate that potentiation of α7 nAChR attenuates pain behaviors in various murine models of chronic pain. This review summarized and discussed the preclinical evidence demonstrating the therapeutic potential of α7 nAChR agonists and allosteric modulators in chronic pain. This evidence indicates that potentiation of α7 nAChR is beneficial in chronic pain, mostly by alleviating neuroinflammation. Overall, α7 nAChR-based therapy for chronic pain is an area with great promise, but more research regarding its detailed mechanisms is warranted.
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Thalidomide alleviates neuropathic pain through microglial IL-10/β-endorphin signaling pathway. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 192:114727. [PMID: 34390739 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Thalidomide is an antiinflammatory, antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory agent which has been used for the treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum and multiple myeloma. It has also been employed in treating complex regional pain syndromes. The current study aimed to reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying thalidomide-induced pain antihypersensitive effects in neuropathic pain. Thalidomide gavage, but not its more potent analogs lenalidomide and pomalidomide, inhibited mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain rats induced by tight ligation of spinal nerves, with ED50 values of 44.9 and 23.5 mg/kg, and Emax values of 74% and 84% MPE respectively. Intrathecal injection of thalidomide also inhibited mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain. Treatment with thalidomide, lenalidomide and pomalidomide reduced peripheral nerve injury-induced proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6) in the ipsilateral spinal cords of neuropathic rats and LPS-treated primary microglial cells. In contrast, treatment with thalidomide, but not lenalidomide or pomalidomide, stimulated spinal expressions of IL-10 and β-endorphin in neuropathic rats. Particularly, thalidomide specifically stimulated IL-10 and β-endorphin expressions in microglia but not astrocytes or neurons. Furthermore, pretreatment with the IL-10 antibody blocked upregulation of β-endorphin in neuropathic rats and cultured microglial cells, whereas it did not restore thalidomide-induced downregulation of proinflammatory cytokine expression. Importantly, pretreatment with intrathecal injection of the microglial metabolic inhibitor minocycline, IL-10 antibody, β-endorphin antiserum, and preferred or selective μ-opioid receptor antagonist naloxone or CTAP entirely blocked thalidomide gavage-induced mechanical antiallodynia. Our results demonstrate that thalidomide, but not lenalidomide or pomalidomide, alleviates neuropathic pain, which is mediated by upregulation of spinal microglial IL-10/β-endorphin expression, rather than downregulation of TNFα expression.
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Han QQ, Deng MY, Liu H, Ali U, Li XY, Wang YX. Cynandione A and PHA-543613 inhibit inflammation and stimulate macrophageal IL-10 expression following α7 nAChR activation. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 190:114600. [PMID: 33992630 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114600] [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: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Cynandione A, an acetophenone isolated from Cynanchum Wilfordii Radix, attenuates inflammation. The present study aimed to study the mechanisms underlying cynandione A-induced antiinflammation. Treatment with cynandione A and the specific α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) agonist PHA-543613 remarkably reduced overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells and primary peritoneal macrophages, and endotoxemic mice. Both cynandione A and PHA-543613 also stimulated IL-10 expression in naïve and LPS-treated macrophages and endotoxemic mice. Cynandione A- and PHA-543613-inhibited proinflammatory cytokine expression was completely blocked by the α7 nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine and the IL-10 antibody. The stimulatory effect of cynandione A and PHA-543613 on IL-10 expression were suppressed by methyllycaconitine and knockdown of α7 nAChRs using siRNA/α7 nAChR. Cynandione A significantly stimulated STAT3 phosphorylation, which was attenuated by methyllycaconitine and the IL-10 neutralizing antibody. The STAT3 activation inhibitor NSC74859 also blocked cynandione A-inhibited proinflammatory cytokine expression. Taken together, our results, for the first time, demonstrate that cynandione A and PHA-543613 inhibit inflammation through macrophageal α7 nAChR activation and subsequent IL-10 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao-Qiao Han
- King's Lab, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Meng-Yan Deng
- King's Lab, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hao Liu
- King's Lab, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Usman Ali
- King's Lab, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xin-Yan Li
- King's Lab, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yong-Xiang Wang
- King's Lab, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy, Shanghai 200240, China.
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