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Qian X, Zhao X, Yu L, Yin Y, Zhang XD, Wang L, Li JX, Zhu Q, Luo JL. Current status of GABA receptor subtypes in analgesia. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115800. [PMID: 37935070 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a non-protein-producing amino acid synthesized from the excitatory amino acid glutamate via the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase, is extensively found in microorganisms, plants and vertebrates, and is abundantly expressed in the spinal cord and brain. It is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian nervous system. GABA plays crucial roles in the regulation of synaptic transmission, the promotion of neuronal development and relaxation, and the prevention of insomnia and depression. As the major inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA plays pivotal roles in the regulation of pain sensation, which is initiated by the activation of peripheral nociceptors and transmitted to the spinal cord and brain along nerves. GABA exerts these roles by directly acting on three types of receptors: ionotropic GABAA and GABAC receptors and G protein-coupled GABAB receptor. The chloride-permeable ion channel receptors GABAA and GABAC mediate fast neurotransmission, while the metabotropic GABAB receptor mediates slow effect. Different GABA receptors regulate pain sensation via different signaling pathways. Here we highlight recent updates on the involvement of specific GABA receptors and their subtypes in the process of pain sensation. Further understanding of different GABA receptors and signaling pathways in pain sensation will benefit the development of novel analgesics for pain management by targeting specific GABA receptor subtypes and signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xunjia Qian
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinyi Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lulu Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yujian Yin
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-Dan Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Liyun Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun-Xu Li
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qing Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jia-Lie Luo
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China.
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Borisova B, Nocheva H, Gérard S, Laronze-Cochard M, Dobrev S, Angelova S, Petrin S, Danalev D. Synthesis, In Silico Log p Study, and In Vitro Analgesic Activity of Analogs of Tetrapeptide FELL. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1183. [PMID: 37631098 PMCID: PMC10458596 DOI: 10.3390/ph16081183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The inflammatory process represents a specific response of the organism's immune system. More often, it is related to the rising pain in the affected area. Independently of its origin, pain represents a complex and multidimensional acute or chronic subjective unpleasant perception. Currently, medical doctors prescribe various analgesics for pain treatment, but unfortunately, many of them have adverse effects or are not strong enough to suppress the pain. Thus, the search for new pain-relieving medical drugs continues. METHODS New tetrapeptide analogs of FELL with a generaanalgesic-Glu-X3-X4-Z, where X = Nle, Ile, or Val and Z = NH2 or COOH, containing different hydrophobic amino acids at positions 3 and 4, were synthesized by means of standard solid-phase peptide synthesis using the Fmoc/OtBu strategy in order to study the influence of structure and hydrophobicity on the analgesic activity. The purity of all compounds was monitored by HPLC, and their structures were proven by ESI-MS. Logp values (partition coefficient in octanol/water) for FELL analogs were calculated. Analgesic activity was examined by the Paw-pressure test (Randall-Selitto test). RESULTS The obtained results reveal that Leu is the best choice as a hydrophobic amino acid in the FELL structure. CONCLUSIONS The best analgesic activity is found in the parent compound FELL and its C-terminal amide analog.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boryana Borisova
- Biotechnology Department, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 8 Kliment Ohridski Blvd., 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria; (B.B.); (S.P.)
| | - Hristina Nocheva
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia, Sv. Georgi Sofiyski Blvd. 1, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Stéphane Gérard
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de Reims (ICMR)-UMR CNRS 7312, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UFR Pharmacie, 51 Rue Cognacq-Jay, 51096 Reims, France; (S.G.); (M.L.-C.)
| | - Marie Laronze-Cochard
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de Reims (ICMR)-UMR CNRS 7312, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UFR Pharmacie, 51 Rue Cognacq-Jay, 51096 Reims, France; (S.G.); (M.L.-C.)
| | - Stefan Dobrev
- Institute of Optical Materials and Technologies “Acad. J. Malinowski”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., bl. 109, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (S.D.); (S.A.)
| | - Silvia Angelova
- Institute of Optical Materials and Technologies “Acad. J. Malinowski”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., bl. 109, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (S.D.); (S.A.)
| | - Stoyko Petrin
- Biotechnology Department, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 8 Kliment Ohridski Blvd., 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria; (B.B.); (S.P.)
| | - Dancho Danalev
- Biotechnology Department, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 8 Kliment Ohridski Blvd., 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria; (B.B.); (S.P.)
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Yu X, Gao Z, Gao M, Qiao M. Bibliometric Analysis on GABA-A Receptors Research Based on CiteSpace and VOSviewer. J Pain Res 2023; 16:2101-2114. [PMID: 37361426 PMCID: PMC10289248 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s409380] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background GABA-A receptors are the primary mediators of brain inhibitory neurotransmission. In the past years, many studies focused on this channel to decipher the pathogenesis of related diseases but lacked bibliometric analysis research. This study aims to explore the research status and identify the research trends of GABA-A receptor channels. Methods Publications related to GABA-A receptor channels were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection from 2012 to 2022. After screening, the VOSviewer 1.6.18 and Citespace 5.8 R3 were used for bibliometric analysis from journals, countries, institutions, authors, co-cited references and keywords. Results We included 12,124 publications in the field of GABA-A receptor channels for analysis. The data shows that although there was a slight decrease in annual publications from 2012 to 2021, it remained at a relatively high level. Most publications were in the domain of neuroscience. Additionally, the United States was the most prolific country, followed by China. Univ Toronto was the most productive institution, and James M Cook led essential findings in this field. Furthermore, brain activation, GABAAR subunits expression, modulation mechanism in pain and anxiety behaviors and GABA and dopamine were paid attention to by researchers. And top research frontiers were molecular docking, autoimmune encephalitic series, obesity, sex difference, diagnosis and management, EEG and KCC2. Conclusion Taken together, academic attention on GABA-A receptor channels was never neglected since 2012. Our analysis identified key information, such as core countries, institutions and authors in this field. Molecular docking, autoimmune encephalitic series, obesity, sex difference, diagnosis and management, EEG and KCC2 will be the future research direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufeng Yu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhan Gao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingzhou Gao
- Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingqi Qiao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
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Wu B, Cao Y, Meng M, Jiang Y, Tao H, Zhang Y, Huang C, Li R. Gabapentin alleviates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by increasing the protein expression of GABA ARδ. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 944:175585. [PMID: 36791842 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175585] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Gabapentin is a commonly used analgesic in the clinic to reduce opioid consumption. It is well known that gabapentin can reduce cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). However, it remains unclear whether gabapentin can reduce myocardial IRI. Before the performance of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R), rats received gabapentin without or with an intravenous injection of PI3K inhibitor (LY294002), or an intraspinal injection of lentivirus-mediated GABAARδ-shRNA. The myocardial IRI were evaluated by calculating the infarction area, arrhythmia score and myocardial apoptosis. The activity of PI3K/Akt and the expression of GABAARδ were quantified by western blotting. The effect of gabapentin on myocardial I/R was further demonstrated in vitro by establishing oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation in cardiomyocytes. After I/R in vivo, there were significant increases in infarction area, arrhythmia and Bax protein expression in the myocardium, as well as a decrease of GABAARδ in the spinal cord. Meanwhile, I/R also decreased the protein expression of PI3K/Akt and Bcl-2. Gabapentin pretreatment successfully attenuated IRI including reducing the myocardial infarction area and apoptosis. This effect was abolished by both the systemic inhibition of PI3K/Akt and the intraspinal suppression of GABAARδ. However, gabapentin pretreatment failed to prevent cellular injury induced by OGD/R in cardiomyocytes. Therefore, the myocardial protective effect of gabapentin may be attributed to activating PI3K/Akt in the myocardium and upregulating GABAARδ in the spinal cord. Gabapentin achieved a potent protective effect on the myocardium during the course of routine clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China; Scientific Research and Experiment Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China; Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yahong Cao
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China; Scientific Research and Experiment Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China; Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China
| | - MingZhu Meng
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China; Scientific Research and Experiment Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China; Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yanwan Jiang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China; Scientific Research and Experiment Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China; Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Hui Tao
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China; Scientific Research and Experiment Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China; Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China; Scientific Research and Experiment Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China; Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Chunxia Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China; Scientific Research and Experiment Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China; Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China.
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China; Scientific Research and Experiment Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China; Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China.
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Shan Y, Zhao J, Zheng Y, Guo S, Schrodi SJ, He D. Understanding the function of the GABAergic system and its potential role in rheumatoid arthritis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1114350. [PMID: 36825000 PMCID: PMC9941139 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1114350] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a highly disabling chronic autoimmune disease. Multiple factors contribute to the complex pathological process of RA, in which an abnormal autoimmune response, high survival of inflammatory cells, and excessive release of inflammatory factors lead to a severe chronic inflammatory response. Clinical management of RA remains limited; therefore, exploring and discovering new mechanisms of action could enhance clinical benefits for patients with RA. Important bidirectional communication occurs between the brain and immune system in inflammatory diseases such as RA, and circulating immune complexes can cause neuroinflammatory responses in the brain. The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic system is a part of the nervous system that primarily comprises GABA, GABA-related receptors, and GABA transporter (GAT) systems. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that binds to GABA receptors in the presence of GATs to exert a variety of pathophysiological regulatory effects, with its predominant role being neural signaling. Nonetheless, the GABAergic system may also have immunomodulatory effects. GABA/GABA-A receptors may inhibit the progression of inflammation in RA and GATs may promote inflammation. GABA-B receptors may also act as susceptibility genes for RA, regulating the inflammatory response of RA via immune cells. Furthermore, the GABAergic system may modulate the abnormal pain response in RA patients. We also summarized the latest clinical applications of the GABAergic system and provided an outlook on its clinical application in RA. However, direct studies on the GABAergic system and RA are still lacking; therefore, we hope to provide potential therapeutic options and a theoretical basis for RA treatment by summarizing any potential associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Shan
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianan Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yixin Zheng
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shicheng Guo
- Computation and Informatics in Biology and Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States,Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States,*Correspondence: Shicheng Guo, ; Steven J. Schrodi, ; Dongyi He,
| | - Steven J. Schrodi
- Computation and Informatics in Biology and Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States,Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States,*Correspondence: Shicheng Guo, ; Steven J. Schrodi, ; Dongyi He,
| | - Dongyi He
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,Arthritis Institute of Integrated Traditional and Western medicine, Shanghai Chinese Medicine Research Institute, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Shicheng Guo, ; Steven J. Schrodi, ; Dongyi He,
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Genaro K, Yoshimura RF, Doan BP, Johnstone TB, Hogenkamp DJ, Gee KW. Allosteric modulators of the δ GABA A receptor subtype demonstrate a therapeutic effect in morphine-antinociceptive tolerance and withdrawal in mice. Neuropharmacology 2022; 219:109221. [PMID: 36084794 PMCID: PMC11012237 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109221] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The present study evaluated the effects of compounds targeting extrasynaptic δ subunit-containing γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (δ*-GABAARs) to interrogate the role of tonic inhibition in the development of antinociceptive tolerance caused by repeated morphine administration. We investigated the effect of subchronic or acute treatment with non-steroidal positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of δ*-GABAARs, such as 2-261, on the morphine-antinociceptive tolerance. Mice were treated twice daily with morphine for 9 days and antinociception was measured using the hot water tail immersion test. Co-treatment with 2-261 and morphine prevented morphine-antinociceptive tolerance and acute administration of 2-261 on day 9 was sufficient to reverse the tolerance. Other compounds with activity at δ*-GABAARs also reversed morphine tolerance, whereas an enaminone that lacked activity at δ*-GABAARs did not. Acute administration of 2-261 did not cause an additive or synergistic antinociceptive effect when combined with an acute submaximal dose of morphine. We then used Cre/LoxP recombination to generate GABAA δ-subunit knockout mice to corroborate the pharmacological results. Observations of male δ-knockout mice demonstrated that the δ*-GABAARs was necessary for 2-261 modulation of both analgesic tolerance and somatic withdrawal symptoms produced by subchronic morphine. While female mice still benefited from the positive effects of 2-261, the δ-subunit was not necessary for these effects, highlighting a distinction of the different pathways that could have implications for some of the sex-related differences seen in human opioid-induced outcomes. Consequently, subtype-specific allosteric modulators of GABAARs may warrant further investigation as pharmacological targets to manage tolerance and withdrawal from opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Genaro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - R F Yoshimura
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA.
| | - B P Doan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - T B Johnstone
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA
| | - D J Hogenkamp
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA
| | - K W Gee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, USA
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Schmiedhofer P, Vogel FD, Koniuszewski F, Ernst M. Cys-loop receptors on cannabinoids: All high? Front Physiol 2022; 13:1044575. [PMID: 36439263 PMCID: PMC9682269 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1044575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoids (eCBS) are endogenously derived lipid signaling molecules that serve as tissue hormones and interact with multiple targets, mostly within the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a highly conserved regulatory system involved in homeostatic regulation, organ formation, and immunomodulation of chordates. The term “cannabinoid” evolved from the distinctive class of plant compounds found in Cannabis sativa, an ancient herb, due to their action on CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1/2 receptors are the primary targets for eCBs, but their effects are not limited to the ECS. Due to the high interest and extensive research on the ECS, knowledge on its constituents and physiological role is substantial and still growing. Crosstalk and multiple targeting of molecules are common features of endogenous and plant compounds. Cannabimimetic molecules can be divided according to their origin, natural or synthetic, including phytocannabinoids (pCB’s) or synthetic cannabinoids (sCB’s). The endocannabinoid system (ECS) consists of receptors, transporters, enzymes, and signaling molecules. In this review, we focus on the effects of cannabinoids on Cys-loop receptors. Cys-loop receptors belong to the class of membrane-bound pentameric ligand gated ion channels, each family comprising multiple subunits. Mammalians possess GABA type A receptors (GABAAR), glycine receptors (GlyR), serotonin receptors type 3 (5-HT3R), and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Several studies have shown different modulatory effects of CBs on multiple members of the Cys-loop receptor family. We highlight the existing knowledge, especially on subunits and protein domains with conserved binding sites for CBs and their possible pharmacological and physiological role in epilepsy and in chronic pain. We further discuss the potential for cannabinoids as first line treatments in epilepsy, chronic pain and other neuropsychiatric conditions, indicated by their polypharmacology and therapeutic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Schmiedhofer
- SBR Development Holding, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Philip Schmiedhofer, ; Margot Ernst,
| | - Florian Daniel Vogel
- Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System, Center for Brain Research, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Filip Koniuszewski
- Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System, Center for Brain Research, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Margot Ernst
- Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System, Center for Brain Research, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Philip Schmiedhofer, ; Margot Ernst,
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Kaur S, Hickman TM, Lopez-Ramirez A, McDonald H, Lockhart LM, Darwish O, Averitt DL. Estrogen modulation of the pronociceptive effects of serotonin on female rat trigeminal sensory neurons is timing dependent and dosage dependent and requires estrogen receptor alpha. Pain 2022; 163:e899-e916. [PMID: 35121697 PMCID: PMC9288423 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The role of the major estrogen estradiol (E2) on orofacial pain conditions remains controversial with studies reporting both a pronociceptive and antinociceptive role of E2. E2 modulation of peripheral serotonergic activity may be one mechanism underlying the female prevalence of orofacial pain disorders. We recently reported that female rats in proestrus and estrus exhibit greater serotonin (5HT)-evoked orofacial nocifensive behaviors compared with diestrus and male rats. Further coexpression of 5HT 2A receptor mRNA in nociceptive trigeminal sensory neurons that express transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 ion channels contributes to pain sensitization. E2 may exacerbate orofacial pain through 5HT-sensitive trigeminal nociceptors, but whether low or high E2 contributes to orofacial pain and by what mechanism remains unclear. We hypothesized that steady-state exposure to a proestrus level of E2 exacerbates 5HT-evoked orofacial nocifensive behaviors in female rats, explored the transcriptome of E2-treated female rats, and determined which E2 receptor contributes to sensitization of female trigeminal sensory neurons. We report that a diestrus level of E2 is protective against 5HT-evoked orofacial pain behaviors, which increase with increasing E2 concentrations, and that E2 differentially alters several pain genes in the trigeminal ganglia. Furthermore, E2 receptors coexpressed with 5HT 2A and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 and enhanced capsaicin-evoked signaling in the trigeminal ganglia through estrogen receptor α. Overall, our data indicate that low, but not high, physiological levels of E2 protect against orofacial pain, and we provide evidence that estrogen receptor α receptor activation, but not others, contributes to sensitization of nociceptive signaling in trigeminal sensory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukhbir Kaur
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX 76204
| | | | | | - Hanna McDonald
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX 76204
| | | | - Omar Darwish
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX 76204
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Zachlod D, Bludau S, Cichon S, Palomero-Gallagher N, Amunts K. Combined analysis of cytoarchitectonic, molecular and transcriptomic patterns reveal differences in brain organization across human functional brain systems. Neuroimage 2022; 257:119286. [PMID: 35597401 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain areas show specific cellular, molecular, and gene expression patterns that are linked to function, but their precise relationships are largely unknown. To unravel these structure-function relationships, a combined analysis of 53 neurotransmitter receptor genes, receptor densities of six transmitter systems and cytoarchitectonic data of the auditory, somatosensory, visual, motor systems was conducted. Besides covariation of areal gene expression with receptor density, the study reveals specific gene expression patterns in functional systems, which are most prominent for the inhibitory GABAA and excitatory glutamatergic NMDA receptors. Furthermore, gene expression-receptor relationships changed in a systematic manner according to information flow from primary to higher associative areas. The findings shed new light on the relationship of anatomical, functional, and molecular and transcriptomic principles of cortical segregation towards a more comprehensive understanding of human brain organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Zachlod
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Bludau
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Sven Cichon
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Palomero-Gallagher
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; C. & O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, and JARA - Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen, Germany
| | - Katrin Amunts
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; C. & O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Wistrom E, Chase R, Smith PR, Campbell ZT. A compendium of validated pain genes. WIREs Mech Dis 2022; 14:e1570. [PMID: 35760453 PMCID: PMC9787016 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The development of novel pain therapeutics hinges on the identification and rigorous validation of potential targets. Model organisms provide a means to test the involvement of specific genes and regulatory elements in pain. Here we provide a list of genes linked to pain-associated behaviors. We capitalize on results spanning over three decades to identify a set of 242 genes. They support a remarkable diversity of functions spanning action potential propagation, immune response, GPCR signaling, enzymatic catalysis, nucleic acid regulation, and intercellular signaling. Making use of existing tissue and single-cell high-throughput RNA sequencing datasets, we examine their patterns of expression. For each gene class, we discuss archetypal members, with an emphasis on opportunities for additional experimentation. Finally, we discuss how powerful and increasingly ubiquitous forward genetic screening approaches could be used to improve our ability to identify pain genes. This article is categorized under: Neurological Diseases > Genetics/Genomics/Epigenetics Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Wistrom
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonTexasUSA
| | - Rebecca Chase
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonTexasUSA
| | - Patrick R. Smith
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonTexasUSA
| | - Zachary T. Campbell
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonTexasUSA,Center for Advanced Pain StudiesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonTexasUSA
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