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Calderon-Rivera A, Gomez K, Loya-López S, Wijeratne EK, Stratton H, Tang C, Duran P, Masterson K, Alsbiei O, Gunatilaka AL, Khanna R. Betulinic acid analogs inhibit N- and T-type voltage-gated calcium channels to attenuate nerve-injury associated neuropathic and formalin models of pain. Neurobiol Pain 2023; 13:100116. [PMID: 36687466 PMCID: PMC9853350 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2023.100116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Over the past three decades, there has been a significant growth in the use of natural products, with approximately 80% of individuals using them for some aspect of primary healthcare. Our laboratories have identified and studied natural compounds with analgesic effects from dry land plants or their associated fungus during the past ten years. Here, we isolated and characterized thirteen betulin analogs and fifteen betulinic acid analogs for their capacity to prevent calcium influx brought on by depolarization in sensory neurons. The in vitro inhibition of voltage-gated calcium channels by the top drugs was then assessed using whole cell patch clamp electrophysiology. In vivo experiments, conducted at two sites, evaluated the best compound in acute and tonic, neuropathic, inflammatory, post-operative and visceral models of pain. We found that the betulinic acid analog 8 inhibited calcium influx in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons by inhibiting N- (CaV2.2) and T- (CaV3) type voltage-gated calcium channels. Moreover, intrathecal delivery of analog 8 had analgesic activity in both spared nerve injury model of neuropathic pain and acute and tonic pain induced by formalin. The results presented herein highlight the potential antinociceptive properties of betulinic acid analog 8 and set the stage for the development of novel non-opioid pain therapeutics based on the triterpenoid scaffold of betulinic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Calderon-Rivera
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kimberly Gomez
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Santiago Loya-López
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - E.M. Kithsiri Wijeratne
- Natural Products Center, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Harrison Stratton
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Cheng Tang
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Paz Duran
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kyleigh Masterson
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Omar Alsbiei
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - A.A. Leslie Gunatilaka
- Natural Products Center, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States
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Yamamoto S, Takahashi Y, Kato F. Input-dependent synaptic suppression by pregabalin in the central amygdala in male mice with inflammatory pain. Neurobiol Pain 2021; 10:100078. [PMID: 34877437 PMCID: PMC8628014 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2021.100078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Pregabalin (PGB) is a synthetic amino acid compound most widely prescribed for chronic peripheral and central neuropathic pain. PGB is a ligand for the α2δ1 subunit of voltage-dependent calcium channels, and its binding reduces neurotransmitter release and thus inhibits synaptic transmission. The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is a kernel site for the enhanced nociception-emotion link in chronic pain. The nociceptive information is conveyed to the CeA via the following two pathways: 1) the pathway arising from the basolateral amygdala (BLA), which carries nociceptive information mediated by the thalamocortical system, and 2) that arising from the external part of the pontine lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB), that forms the final route of the spino-parabrachio-amygdaloid pathway that conveys nociceptive information directly from the superficial layer of the spinal dorsal horn. We compared the effects of PGB on the excitatory postsynaptic currents of neurons in the right CeA in response to electrical stimulation of BLA and LPB pathways using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Inflammatory pain was induced by intraplantar injection of formalin solution at the left hind paw. At eight hours post-formalin, PGB reduced EPSCs amplitude of the BLA-to-CeA synaptic transmission, accompanied by a significant increase in the PPR, suggesting a decreased release probability from the presynaptic terminals. In addition, these effects of PGB were only seen in inflammatory conditions. PGB did not affect the synaptic transmission at the LPB-to-CeA pathway, even in formalin-treated mice. These results suggest PGB improves not simply the aberrantly enhanced nociception but also various pain-associated cognitive and affective consequences in patients with chronic nociplastic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumii Yamamoto
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
- Department of Neuroscience, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
| | - Yukari Takahashi
- Department of Neuroscience, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
- Center for Neuroscience of Pain, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
| | - Fusao Kato
- Department of Neuroscience, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
- Center for Neuroscience of Pain, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
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Ulker E, Caillaud M, Patel T, White A, Rashid D, Alqasem M, Lichtman AH, Bryant CD, Damaj MI. C57BL/6 substrain differences in formalin-induced pain-like behavioral responses. Behav Brain Res 2020; 390:112698. [PMID: 32428630 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Substantial evidence from preclinical models of pain suggests that basal and noxious nociceptive sensitivity, as well as antinociceptive responses to drugs, show significant heritability. Individual differences to these responses have been observed across species from rodents to humans. The use of closely related C57BL/6 inbred mouse substrains can facilitate gene mapping of acute nociceptive behaviors in preclinical pain models. In this study, we investigated behavioral differences between C57BL/6 J (B6 J) and C57BL/6 N (B6 N) substrains in the formalin test, a widely used tonic inflammatory pain model, using a battery of pain-related phenotypes, including reflexive tests, nesting, voluntary wheel running, sucrose preference and anxiety-like behavior in the light/dark test at two different time points (1-h and 24-h). Our results show that these substrains did not differ in reflexive thermal and mechanical responses at the 1-h time point. However, B6 N substrain mice showed increased sensitivity to spontaneous pain-like behaviors. In addition, B6 N substrain continued to show higher levels of mechanical hypersensitivity compared to controls at 24-h. indicating that mechanical hypersensitivity is a more persistent pain-related phenotype induced by formalin. Finally, no sex differences were observed in our outcome measures. Our results provide a comprehensive behavioral testing paradigm in response to an inflammatory agent for future mouse genetic studies in pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esad Ulker
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA.
| | - Martial Caillaud
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - Trusha Patel
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - Alyssa White
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - Danyal Rashid
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - Mashael Alqasem
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - Aron H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - Camron D Bryant
- Laboratory of Addiction Genetics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - M Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
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Ang ST, Ariffin MZ, Khanna S. The forebrain medial septal region and nociception. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2016; 138:238-251. [PMID: 27444843 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Revised: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/17/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The forebrain medial septum, which is an integral part of the septo-hippocampal network, is implicated in sensorimotor integration, fear and anxiety, and spatial learning and memory. A body of evidence also suggests that the septal region affects experimental pain. Indeed, some explorations in humans have raised the possibility that the region may modulate clinical pain as well. This review explores the evidence that implicates the medial septum in nociception and suggests that non-overlapping circuits in the region facilitate acute nociceptive behaviors and defensive behaviors that reflect affect and cognitive appraisal, especially in relation to persistent nociception. In line with a role in nociception, the region modulates nociceptive responses in the neuraxis, including the hippocampus and the anterior cingulate cortex. The aforementioned forebrain regions have also been implicated in persistent/long-lasting nociception. The review also weighs the effects of the medial septum on nociception vis-à-vis the known roles of the region and emphasizes the fact that the region is a part of network of forebrain structures which have been long associated with reward, cognition and affect-motivation and are now implicated in persistent/long-lasting nociception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seok Ting Ang
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mohammed Zacky Ariffin
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sanjay Khanna
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Neurobiology Program, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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Chen Y, Kanju P, Fang Q, Lee SH, Parekh PK, Lee W, Moore C, Brenner D, Gereau RW, Wang F, Liedtke W. TRPV4 is necessary for trigeminal irritant pain and functions as a cellular formalin receptor. Pain 2014; 155:2662-2672. [PMID: 25281928 DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2014.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Revised: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Detection of external irritants by head nociceptor neurons has deep evolutionary roots. Irritant-induced aversive behavior is a popular pain model in laboratory animals. It is used widely in the formalin model, where formaldehyde is injected into the rodent paw, eliciting quantifiable nocifensive behavior that has a direct, tissue-injury-evoked phase, and a subsequent tonic phase caused by neural maladaptation. The formalin model has elucidated many antipain compounds and pain-modulating signaling pathways. We have adopted this model to trigeminally innervated territories in mice. In addition, we examined the involvement of TRPV4 channels in formalin-evoked trigeminal pain behavior because TRPV4 is abundantly expressed in trigeminal ganglion (TG) sensory neurons, and because we have recently defined TRPV4's role in response to airborne irritants and in a model for temporomandibular joint pain. We found TRPV4 to be important for trigeminal nocifensive behavior evoked by formalin whisker pad injections. This conclusion is supported by studies with Trpv4(-/-) mice and TRPV4-specific antagonists. Our results imply TRPV4 in MEK-ERK activation in TG sensory neurons. Furthermore, cellular studies in primary TG neurons and in heterologous TRPV4-expressing cells suggest that TRPV4 can be activated directly by formalin to gate Ca(2+). Using TRPA1-blocker and Trpa1(-/-) mice, we found that both TRP channels co-contribute to the formalin trigeminal pain response. These results imply TRPV4 as an important signaling molecule in irritation-evoked trigeminal pain. TRPV4-antagonistic therapies can therefore be envisioned as novel analgesics, possibly for specific targeting of trigeminal pain disorders, such as migraine, headaches, temporomandibular joint, facial, and dental pain, and irritation of trigeminally innervated surface epithelia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Chen
- Department of Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63110, USA Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA Clinics for Pain and Palliative Care, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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Thompson SJ, Millecamps M, Aliaga A, Seminowicz DA, Low LA, Bedell BJ, Stone LS, Schweinhardt P, Bushnell MC. Metabolic brain activity suggestive of persistent pain in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Neuroimage 2014; 91:344-52. [PMID: 24462776 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Revised: 11/07/2013] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent pain is a central characteristic of neuropathic pain conditions in humans. Knowing whether rodent models of neuropathic pain produce persistent pain is therefore crucial to their translational applicability. We investigated the spared nerve injury (SNI) model of neuropathic pain and the formalin pain model in rats using positron emission tomography (PET) with the metabolic tracer [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to determine if there is ongoing brain activity suggestive of persistent pain. For the formalin model, under brief anesthesia we injected one hindpaw with 5% formalin and the FDG tracer into a tail vein. We then allowed the animals to awaken and observed pain behavior for 30min during the FDG uptake period. The rat was then anesthetized and placed in the scanner for static image acquisition, which took place between minutes 45 and 75 post-tracer injection. A single reference rat brain magnetic resonance image (MRI) was used to align the PET images with the Paxinos and Watson rat brain atlas. Increased glucose metabolism was observed in the somatosensory region associated with the injection site (S1 hindlimb contralateral), S1 jaw/upper lip and cingulate cortex. Decreases were observed in the prelimbic cortex and hippocampus. Second, SNI rats were scanned 3weeks post-surgery using the same scanning paradigm, and region-of-interest analyses revealed increased metabolic activity in the contralateral S1 hindlimb. Finally, a second cohort of SNI rats was scanned while anesthetized during the tracer uptake period, and the S1 hindlimb increase was not observed. Increased brain activity in the somatosensory cortex of SNI rats resembled the activity produced with the injection of formalin, suggesting that the SNI model may produce persistent pain. The lack of increased activity in S1 hindlimb with general anesthetic demonstrates that this effect can be blocked, as well as highlights the importance of investigating brain activity in awake and behaving rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott J Thompson
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0G1, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2T5, Canada.
| | - Magali Millecamps
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0G1, Canada; Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2T5, Canada
| | - Antonio Aliaga
- Small Animal Imaging Lab, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - David A Seminowicz
- Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Lucie A Low
- Division of Intramural Research, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Barry J Bedell
- Small Animal Imaging Lab, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Laura S Stone
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0G1, Canada; Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2T5, Canada; Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Petra Schweinhardt
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0G1, Canada; Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2T5, Canada; Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - M Catherine Bushnell
- Division of Intramural Research, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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