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Smith PA. Neuropathic pain; what we know and what we should do about it. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2023; 4:1220034. [PMID: 37810432 PMCID: PMC10559888 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1220034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain can result from injury to, or disease of the nervous system. It is notoriously difficult to treat. Peripheral nerve injury promotes Schwann cell activation and invasion of immunocompetent cells into the site of injury, spinal cord and higher sensory structures such as thalamus and cingulate and sensory cortices. Various cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, monoamines and neuropeptides effect two-way signalling between neurons, glia and immune cells. This promotes sustained hyperexcitability and spontaneous activity in primary afferents that is crucial for onset and persistence of pain as well as misprocessing of sensory information in the spinal cord and supraspinal structures. Much of the current understanding of pain aetiology and identification of drug targets derives from studies of the consequences of peripheral nerve injury in rodent models. Although a vast amount of information has been forthcoming, the translation of this information into the clinical arena has been minimal. Few, if any, major therapeutic approaches have appeared since the mid 1990's. This may reflect failure to recognise differences in pain processing in males vs. females, differences in cellular responses to different types of injury and differences in pain processing in humans vs. animals. Basic science and clinical approaches which seek to bridge this knowledge gap include better assessment of pain in animal models, use of pain models which better emulate human disease, and stratification of human pain phenotypes according to quantitative assessment of signs and symptoms of disease. This can lead to more personalized and effective treatments for individual patients. Significance statement: There is an urgent need to find new treatments for neuropathic pain. Although classical animal models have revealed essential features of pain aetiology such as peripheral and central sensitization and some of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved, they do not adequately model the multiplicity of disease states or injuries that may bring forth neuropathic pain in the clinic. This review seeks to integrate information from the multiplicity of disciplines that seek to understand neuropathic pain; including immunology, cell biology, electrophysiology and biophysics, anatomy, cell biology, neurology, molecular biology, pharmacology and behavioral science. Beyond this, it underlines ongoing refinements in basic science and clinical practice that will engender improved approaches to pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A. Smith
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute and Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Rangel-Galván M, Rangel-Galván V, Rangel-Huerta A. T-type calcium channel modulation by hydrogen sulfide in neuropathic pain conditions. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1212800. [PMID: 37529702 PMCID: PMC10387653 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1212800] [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: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain can appear as a direct or indirect nerve damage lesion or disease that affects the somatosensory nervous system. If the neurons are damaged or indirectly stimulated, immune cells contribute significantly to inflammatory and neuropathic pain. After nerve injury, peripheral macrophages/spinal microglia accumulate around damaged neurons, producing endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) through the cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) enzyme. H2S has a pronociceptive modulation on the Cav3.2 subtype, the predominant Cav3 isoform involved in pain processes. The present review provides relevant information about H2S modulation on the Cav3.2 T-type channels in neuropathic pain conditions. We have discussed that the dual effect of H2S on T-type channels is concentration-dependent, that is, an inhibitory effect is seen at low concentrations of 10 µM and an augmentation effect on T-current at 100 µM. The modulation mechanism of the Cav3.2 channel by H2S involves the direct participation of the redox/Zn2+ affinity site located in the His191 in the extracellular loop of domain I of the channel, involving a group of extracellular cysteines, comprising C114, C123, C128, and C1333, that can modify the local redox environment. The indirect interaction pathways involve the regulation of the Cav3.2 channel through cytokines, kinases, and post-translational regulators of channel expression. The findings conclude that the CSE/H2S/Cav3.2 pathway could be a promising therapeutic target for neuropathic pain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maricruz Rangel-Galván
- Biothecnology Department, Metropolitan Polytechnic University of Puebla, Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Violeta Rangel-Galván
- Nursing and Physiotherapy Department, University of Professional Development, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Rangel-Huerta
- Faculty of Computer Science, Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla, Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
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Harding EK, Souza IA, Gandini MA, Gadotti VM, Ali MY, Huang S, Antunes FTT, Trang T, Zamponi GW. Differential regulation of Ca v 3.2 and Ca v 2.2 calcium channels by CB 1 receptors and cannabidiol. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:1616-1633. [PMID: 36647671 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cannabinoids are a promising therapeutic avenue for chronic pain. However, clinical trials often fail to report analgesic efficacy of cannabinoids. Inhibition of voltage gate calcium (Cav ) channels is one mechanism through which cannabinoids may produce analgesia. We hypothesized that cannabinoids and cannabinoid receptor agonists target different types of Cav channels through distinct mechanisms. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Electrophysiological recordings from tsA-201 cells expressing either Cav 3.2 or Cav 2.2 were used to assess inhibition by HU-210 or cannabidiol (CBD) in the absence and presence of the CB1 receptor. Homology modelling assessed potential interaction sites for CBD in both Cav 2.2 and Cav 3.2. Analgesic effects of CBD were assessed in mouse models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. KEY RESULTS HU-210 (1 μM) inhibited Cav 2.2 function in the presence of CB1 receptor but had no effect on Cav 3.2 regardless of co-expression of CB1 receptor. By contrast, CBD (3 μM) produced no inhibition of Cav 2.2 and instead inhibited Cav 3.2 independently of CB1 receptors. Homology modelling supported these findings, indicating that CBD binds to and occludes the pore of Cav 3.2, but not Cav 2.2. Intrathecal CBD alleviated thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity in both male and female mice, and this effect was absent in Cav 3.2 null mice. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Our findings reveal differential modulation of Cav 2.2 and Cav 3.2 channels by CB1 receptors and CBD. This advances our understanding of how different cannabinoids produce analgesia through action at different voltage-gated calcium channels and could influence the development of novel cannabinoid-based therapeutics for treatment of chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika K Harding
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Ivana A Souza
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Maria A Gandini
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Vinícius M Gadotti
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Zymedyne Therapeutics, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Md Yousof Ali
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Zymedyne Therapeutics, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sun Huang
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Flavia T T Antunes
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Tuan Trang
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Gerald W Zamponi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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North SC, Jorgensen KR, Pricetolstoy J, Wilson AK. Population analysis and the effects of Gaussian basis set quality and quantum mechanical approach: main group through heavy element species. Front Chem 2023; 11:1152500. [PMID: 37153525 PMCID: PMC10154537 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1152500] [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: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Atomic charge and its distribution across molecules provide important insight into chemical behavior. Though there are many studies on various routes for the determination of atomic charge, there are few studies that examine the broader impact of basis set and quantum method used over many types of population analysis methods across the periodic table. Largely, such a study of population analysis has focused on main-group species. In this work, atomic charges were calculated using several population analysis methods including orbital-based methods (Mulliken, Löwdin, and Natural Population Analysis), volume-based methods (Atoms-in-Molecules (AIM) and Hirshfeld), and potential derived charges (CHELP, CHELPG, and Merz-Kollman). The impact of basis set and quantum mechanical method choices upon population analysis has been considered. The basis sets utilized include Pople (6-21G**, 6-31G**, 6-311G**) and Dunning (cc-pVnZ, aug-cc-pVnZ; n = D, T, Q, 5) basis sets for main group molecules. For the transition metal and heavy element species examined, relativistic forms of the correlation consistent basis sets were used. This is the first time the cc-pVnZ-DK3 and cc-pwCVnZ-DK3 basis sets have been examined with respect to their behavior across all levels of basis sets for atomic charges for an actinide. The quantum methods chosen include two density functional (PBE0 and B3LYP), Hartree-Fock, and second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasha C. North
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Kameron R. Jorgensen
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX, United States
| | - Jason Pricetolstoy
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Angela K. Wilson
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Angela K. Wilson,
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Rangel-Galván M, Castro ME, Perez-Aguilar JM, Caballero NA, Melendez FJ. Conceptual DFT, QTAIM, and Molecular Docking Approaches to Characterize the T-Type Calcium Channel Blocker Anandamide. Front Chem 2022; 10:920661. [PMID: 35910732 PMCID: PMC9329692 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.920661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The anandamide is a relevant ligand due to its capacity of interacting with several proteins, including the T-type calcium channels, which play an important role in neuropathic pain and depression disorders. Hence, a detailed characterization of the chemical properties and conformational stability of anandamide may provide valuable information to understand its behavior in a biological context. Herein, conceptual DFT and QTAIM analyses were performed to theoretically characterize the chemical reactivity properties and the structural stability of conformations of anandamide, using the BP86/cc-pVTZ level of theory. Global reactivity description, based on conceptual DFT, indicates that the hardness increases and the electrophilicity index decreases for both, the hairpin and U-shape conformers relative to the extended conformers. Also, an increase in the chemical potential value and a decrease in the electronegativity and the electrophilicity index is observed in the ethanolamide open ring conformers in comparison with the corresponding closed ring structures. In addition, regarding the characterization of local reactivity descriptors, the maximum values of the Fukui and Parr functions indicate that the most probable location for a nucleophilic attack is either the hydroxyl oxygen located in the ethanolamide closed ring conformers or the carbonyl oxygen present in the open ring conformers. The most probable location for an electrophilic attack is in the alkyl double bond region in all anandamide conformers. According to the QTAIM results, the intramolecular hydrogen bond formation stabilizing the structure of anandamide has interaction energy values for the closed ring conformations of 12.33–12.46 kcal mol−1, indicating a strong interaction. Lastly, molecular docking calculations determined that a region in the pore, denominate as pore-blocking, is a probable site for the interaction of anandamide with the human Cav3.2 isoform of the T-type calcium channel family. The pore-blocking site contains hydrophobic residues where the non-polar part in the final alkyl region of anandamide established mainly alkyl-alkyl interactions, while the polar part (the ethanolamide group) interacts with the polar residue S900. The information based on conceptual DFT presented may aid in the design of drugs with similar chemical characteristics as those identified in anandamide so as to bind anandamide-interacting proteins, including the T-type calcium channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maricruz Rangel-Galván
- Lab. de Química Teórica, Centro de Investigación, Depto. de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - María Eugenia Castro
- Centro de Química, Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
- *Correspondence: María Eugenia Castro, ; Francisco J. Melendez,
| | - Jose Manuel Perez-Aguilar
- Lab. de Química Teórica, Centro de Investigación, Depto. de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Norma A. Caballero
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Francisco J. Melendez
- Lab. de Química Teórica, Centro de Investigación, Depto. de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
- *Correspondence: María Eugenia Castro, ; Francisco J. Melendez,
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Geedkar D, Kumar A, Sharma P. Molecular Iodine-Catalyzed Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2- a]Pyridines: Screening of Their In Silico Selectivity, Binding Affinity to Biological Targets, and Density Functional Theory Studies Insight. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:22421-22439. [PMID: 35811892 PMCID: PMC9260945 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The present paper discloses an ultrasonication strategy assisted by molecular iodine as an environmentally benign catalyst leading to the synthesis of pharmacologically significant imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine scaffolds. The molecular-iodine-catalyzed approach for the synthesis of biologically active synthetic equivalents was achieved through three-component coupling embracing 2-aminopyridine derivatives, pertinent acetophenones, and dimedone in water medium under aerobic conditions. The higher product yield (up to 96%) with a miniature reaction time and modest catalyst loading as demonstrated by higher ecological compatibility and sustainability factors are fascinating features of this protocol. The structures of synthesized compounds were accomplished through FT-IR, 1H NMR,13C NMR, mass, and elemental analysis data. The virtual screening of synthetic moieties was performed to ascertain the in silico selectivity and binding affinities against several biological targets. Lipinski's rules of five, ADMET, and TOPKAT descriptors were used to evaluate the drug-likeness assets. Furthermore, a quantum computational study was computed at the B3LYP/6-311G++(d,p) level of theory to investigate the density functional theory-based chemical reactivity parameters and HOMO-LUMO energy gap of the synthesized derivatives. The present studies open the way for in vitro and in vivo testing of synthesized derivatives as potent inhibitors with an improved pharmacological profile against farnesyl diphosphate synthase, phosphodiesterase III, CXCR4, and GABAa receptor agonists.
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