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Swanson KA, Nguyen KL, Gupta S, Ricard J, Bethea JR. TNFR1/p38αMAPK signaling in Nex + supraspinal neurons regulates estrogen-dependent chronic neuropathic pain. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 119:261-271. [PMID: 38570102 PMCID: PMC11162907 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.03.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Upregulation of soluble tumor necrosis factor (sTNF) cytokine signaling through TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and subsequent neuronal hyperexcitability are observed in both animal models and human chronic neuropathic pain (CNP). Previously, we have shown that estrogen modulates sTNF/TNFR1 signaling in CNP, which may contribute to female prevalence of CNP. The estrogen-dependent role of TNFR1-mediated supraspinal neuronal circuitry in CNP remains unknown. In this study, we interrogated the intersect between supraspinal TNFR1 mediated neuronal signaling and sex specificity by selectively removing TNFR1 in Nex + neurons in adult mice (NexCreERT2::TNFR1f/f). We determined that mechanical hypersensitivity induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) decreases over time in males, but not in females. Subsequently, we investigated two downstream pathways, p38MAPK and NF-κB, important in TNFR1 signaling and injury response. We detected p38MAPK and NF-κB activation in male cortical tissue; however, p38MAPK phosphorylation was reduced in NexCreERT2::TNFR1f/f males. We observed a similar recovery from acute pain in male mice following CCI when p38αMAPK was knocked out of supraspinal Nex + neurons (NexCreERT2::p38αMAPKf/f), while chronic pain developed in female mice. To explore the intersection between estrogen and inflammation in CNP we used a combination therapy of an estrogen receptor β (ER β) inhibitor with a sTNF/TNFR1 or general p38MAPK inhibitor. We determined both combination therapies lends therapeutic relief to females following CCI comparable to the response evaluated in male mice. These data suggest that TNFR1/p38αMAPK signaling in Nex + neurons in CNP is male-specific and lack of therapeutic efficacy following sTNF inhibition in females is due to ER β interference. These studies highlight sex-specific differences in pathways important to pain chronification and elucidate potential therapeutic strategies that would be effective in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A Swanson
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Papadakis Integrated Science Building, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kayla L Nguyen
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ross Hall, 2300 I (Eye) St NW, Rm.530A, Washington, D.C 20052, USA.
| | - Shruti Gupta
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ross Hall, 2300 I (Eye) St NW, Rm.530A, Washington, D.C 20052, USA
| | - Jerome Ricard
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Papadakis Integrated Science Building, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - John R Bethea
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ross Hall, 2300 I (Eye) St NW, Rm.530A, Washington, D.C 20052, USA.
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2
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Cao B, Xu Q, Shi Y, Zhao R, Li H, Zheng J, Liu F, Wan Y, Wei B. Pathology of pain and its implications for therapeutic interventions. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:155. [PMID: 38851750 PMCID: PMC11162504 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01845-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Pain is estimated to affect more than 20% of the global population, imposing incalculable health and economic burdens. Effective pain management is crucial for individuals suffering from pain. However, the current methods for pain assessment and treatment fall short of clinical needs. Benefiting from advances in neuroscience and biotechnology, the neuronal circuits and molecular mechanisms critically involved in pain modulation have been elucidated. These research achievements have incited progress in identifying new diagnostic and therapeutic targets. In this review, we first introduce fundamental knowledge about pain, setting the stage for the subsequent contents. The review next delves into the molecular mechanisms underlying pain disorders, including gene mutation, epigenetic modification, posttranslational modification, inflammasome, signaling pathways and microbiota. To better present a comprehensive view of pain research, two prominent issues, sexual dimorphism and pain comorbidities, are discussed in detail based on current findings. The status quo of pain evaluation and manipulation is summarized. A series of improved and innovative pain management strategies, such as gene therapy, monoclonal antibody, brain-computer interface and microbial intervention, are making strides towards clinical application. We highlight existing limitations and future directions for enhancing the quality of preclinical and clinical research. Efforts to decipher the complexities of pain pathology will be instrumental in translating scientific discoveries into clinical practice, thereby improving pain management from bench to bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Cao
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Qixuan Xu
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Yajiao Shi
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ruiyang Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Hanghang Li
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Fengyu Liu
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - You Wan
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Bo Wei
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
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Vonu PM, Shekouhi R, Crawford K, Hones KM, Chim H. Targeted Muscle Reinnervation: Factors Predisposing to Successful Pain Score Reduction. Ann Plast Surg 2024; 92:S426-S431. [PMID: 38857008 DOI: 10.1097/sap.0000000000003976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) has demonstrated efficacy in reducing neuroma and chronic pain. In this article, we investigated postoperative outcomes in our patient cohort, with a focus on the role of nonmodifiable factors such as patient age and gender. METHODS Patients who had extremity TMR from April 2018 to October 2022 were reviewed. Outcomes of interest included patient age, gender, cause and type of amputation, delayed versus immediate TMR, as well as postoperative improvement in pain as assessed by numerical rating score (NRS). RESULTS A total of 40 patients underwent TMR on 47 limbs. Mean age was 46.2 ± 17.0 years. Delayed TMR (27, 57.4%) was most commonly performed, followed by immediate and delayed-immediate at 11 (23.4%) and 9 (19.1%), respectively. Amputation level was most commonly above-knee in 20 (42.6%) patients, followed by below-knee (12, 25.5%), transhumeral (8, 17.0%), transradial (6, 12.8%), and shoulder (1, 2.1%). The median time interval between amputation and TMR was 12 months. The median preoperative NRS assessing residual limb pain (RLP) for patients who underwent delayed TMR was 10. The median postoperative NRS assessing RLP for all patients was 0 (interquartile range25-75: 0-5) and significantly improved compared with preoperative NRS (P < 0.001). At the last follow-up for limbs that had delayed and delayed-immediate TMR (n = 36), 33 (91.7%) limbs had more than 50% resolution of RLP. There was a significant difference in median postoperative NRS by gender (4 in men and 0 in women) (P < 0.05). Postoperative median NRS also favored younger patients (0, <50 years compared with 4.5, >50 years) (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that, of different variables analyzed, only male gender and older age were predictive of poorer postoperative outcomes. CONCLUSION TMR showed high efficacy in our cohort, with improved short-term outcomes in women and younger patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Vonu
- From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL
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4
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Anger JT, Case LK, Baranowski AP, Berger A, Craft RM, Damitz LA, Gabriel R, Harrison T, Kaptein K, Lee S, Murphy AZ, Said E, Smith SA, Thomas DA, Valdés Hernández MDC, Trasvina V, Wesselmann U, Yaksh TL. Pain mechanisms in the transgender individual: a review. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2024; 5:1241015. [PMID: 38601924 PMCID: PMC11004280 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1241015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Specific Aim Provide an overview of the literature addressing major areas pertinent to pain in transgender persons and to identify areas of primary relevance for future research. Methods A team of scholars that have previously published on different areas of related research met periodically though zoom conferencing between April 2021 and February 2023 to discuss relevant literature with the goal of providing an overview on the incidence, phenotype, and mechanisms of pain in transgender patients. Review sections were written after gathering information from systematic literature searches of published or publicly available electronic literature to be compiled for publication as part of a topical series on gender and pain in the Frontiers in Pain Research. Results While transgender individuals represent a significant and increasingly visible component of the population, many researchers and clinicians are not well informed about the diversity in gender identity, physiology, hormonal status, and gender-affirming medical procedures utilized by transgender and other gender diverse patients. Transgender and cisgender people present with many of the same medical concerns, but research and treatment of these medical needs must reflect an appreciation of how differences in sex, gender, gender-affirming medical procedures, and minoritized status impact pain. Conclusions While significant advances have occurred in our appreciation of pain, the review indicates the need to support more targeted research on treatment and prevention of pain in transgender individuals. This is particularly relevant both for gender-affirming medical interventions and related medical care. Of particular importance is the need for large long-term follow-up studies to ascertain best practices for such procedures. A multi-disciplinary approach with personalized interventions is of particular importance to move forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer T. Anger
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Laura K. Case
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Andrew P. Baranowski
- Pelvic Pain Medicine and Neuromodulation, University College Hospital Foundation Trust, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ardin Berger
- Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Rebecca M. Craft
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Lyn Ann Damitz
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Rodney Gabriel
- Division of Regional Anesthesia, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Tracy Harrison
- Department of OB/GYN & Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Kirsten Kaptein
- Division of Plastic Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Sanghee Lee
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Anne Z. Murphy
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Engy Said
- Division of Regional Anesthesia, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Stacey Abigail Smith
- Division of Infection Disease, The Hope Clinic of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - David A. Thomas
- Office of Research on Women's Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Maria del C. Valdés Hernández
- Department of Neuroimaging Sciences, Center for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Victor Trasvina
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Ursula Wesselmann
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine/Division of Pain Medicine, Neurology and Psychology, and Consortium for Neuroengineering and Brain-Computer Interfaces, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Tony L. Yaksh
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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Calvillo-Montoya DL, Martínez-Magaña CJ, Oviedo N, Murbartián J. The Estrogen Receptor Alpha Regulates the Sex-dependent Expression and Pronociceptive Role of Bestrophin-1 in Neuropathic Rats. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024:104513. [PMID: 38521145 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Bestrophin-1, a calcium-activated chloride channel (CaCC), is involved in neuropathic pain; however, it is unclear whether it has a dimorphic role in female and male neuropathic rats. This study investigated if 17β-estradiol and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) activation regulate bestrophin-1 activity and expression in neuropathic rats. Neuropathic pain was induced by L5-spinal nerve transection (SNT). Intrathecal administration of CaCCinh-A01 (.1-1 µg), a CaCC blocker, reversed tactile allodynia induced by SNT in female but not male rats. In contrast, T16Ainh-A01, a selective anoctamin-1 blocker, had an equal antiallodynic effect in both sexes. SNT increased bestrophin-1 protein expression in injured L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in female rats but decreased bestrophin-1 protein in L5 DRG in male rats. Ovariectomy prevented the antiallodynic effect of CaCCinh-A01, but 17β-estradiol replacement restored it. The effect of CaCCinh-A01 was prevented by intrathecal administration of MPP, a selective ERα antagonist, in rats with and without prior hormonal manipulation. In female rats with neuropathy, ovariectomy prevented the increase in bestrophin-1 and ERα protein expression, while 17β-estradiol replacement allowed for an increase in both proteins in L5 DRG. Furthermore, ERα antagonism (with MPP) prevented the increase in bestrophin-1 and ERα protein expression. Finally, ERα activation with PPT, an ERα selective activator, induced the antiallodynic effect of CaCCinh-A01 in neuropathic male rats and prevented the reduction in bestrophin-1 protein expression in L5 DRG. In summary, data suggest ERα activation is necessary for bestrophin-1's pronociceptive action to maintain neuropathic pain in female rats. PERSPECTIVE: The mechanisms involved in neuropathic pain differ between male and female animals. Our data suggest that ERα is necessary for expression and function of bestrophin-1 in neuropathic female but not male rats. Data support the idea that a therapeutic approach to relieving neuropathic pain must be based on patient's gender.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Norma Oviedo
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunología e Infectología, Centro Médico Nacional, La Raza, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Janet Murbartián
- Department of Pharmacobiologý, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico.
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6
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Lee JY, Park CS, Seo KJ, Kim IY, Han S, Youn I, Yune TY. IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 axis mediates neuropathic pain by regulating astrocyte and microglia activation after spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 2023; 370:114576. [PMID: 37863306 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
After spinal cord injury (SCI), the control of activated glial cells such as microglia and astrocytes has emerged as a promising strategy for neuropathic pain management. However, signaling mechanism involved in glial activation in the process of neuropathic pain development and maintenance after SCI is not well elucidated. In this study, we investigated the potential role and mechanism of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway associated with glial cell activation in chronic neuropathic pain development and maintenance after SCI. One month after contusive SCI, the activation of JAK2/STAT3 pathway was markedly upregulated in both microglia and astrocyte in nociceptive processing regions of the lumbar spinal cord. In addition, both mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia was significantly inhibited by a JAK2 inhibitor, AG490. In particular, AG490 treatment inhibited both microglial and astrocyte activation in the lumbar (L) 4-5 dorsal horn and significantly decreased levels of p-p38MAPK, p-ERK and p-JNK, which are known to be activated in microglia (p-p38MAPK and p-ERK) and astrocyte (p-JNK). Experiments using primary cell cultures also revealed that the JAK2/STAT3 pathway promoted microglia and astrocyte activation after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Furthermore, JAK2/STAT3 signaling and pain behaviors were significantly attenuated when the rats were treated with anti-IL-6 antibody. Finally, minocycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, inhibited IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in activated glial cells and restored nociceptive thresholds and the hyperresponsiveness of dorsal neurons. These results suggest an important role of the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway in the activation of microglia and astrocytes and in the maintenance of chronic below-level pain after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jee Youn Lee
- Age-Related and Brain Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02453, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Sol Park
- Age-Related and Brain Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02453, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Jin Seo
- Age-Related and Brain Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02453, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - In Yi Kim
- Age-Related and Brain Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02453, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungmin Han
- Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Inchan Youn
- Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Young Yune
- Age-Related and Brain Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02453, Republic of Korea; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02453, Republic of Korea; Biomedical Science Institute, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
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7
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Vacca V, Rossi C, Pieroni L, De Angelis F, Giacovazzo G, Cicalini I, Ciavardelli D, Pavone F, Coccurello R, Marinelli S. Sex-specific adipose tissue's dynamic role in metabolic and inflammatory response following peripheral nerve injury. iScience 2023; 26:107914. [PMID: 37817933 PMCID: PMC10561049 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107914] [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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological data and research highlight increased neuropathy and chronic pain prevalence among females, spanning metabolic and normometabolic contexts, including murine models. Prior findings demonstrated diverse immune and neuroimmune responses between genders in neuropathic pain (NeP), alongside distinct protein expression in sciatic nerves. This study unveils adipose tissue's (AT) role in sex-specific NeP responses after peripheral nerve injury. Metabolic assessments, metabolomics, energy expenditure evaluations, AT proteomic analyses, and adipokine mobilization depict distinct AT reactions to nerve damage. Females exhibit altered lipolysis, fatty acid oxidation, heightened energy expenditure, and augmented steroids secretion affecting glucose and insulin metabolism. Conversely, male neuropathy prompts glycolysis, reduced energy expenditure, and lowered unsaturated fatty acid levels. Males' AT promotes regenerative molecules, oxidative stress defense, and stimulates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR-γ) and adiponectin. This study underscores AT's pivotal role in regulating gender-specific inflammatory and metabolic responses to nerve injuries, shedding light on female NeP susceptibility determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Vacca
- National Council of Research - Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Monterotondo (RM), Italy
| | - Claudia Rossi
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Luisa Pieroni
- Departmental Faculty of Medicine, UniCamillus - Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy
- European Center for Brain Research/Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica De Angelis
- National Council of Research - Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Monterotondo (RM), Italy
- European Center for Brain Research/Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Giacomo Giacovazzo
- European Center for Brain Research/Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Università degli studi di Teramo (UniTE) - Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Ilaria Cicalini
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Domenico Ciavardelli
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- School of Medicine, University Kore of Enna, Enna, Italy
| | - Flaminia Pavone
- National Council of Research - Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Monterotondo (RM), Italy
| | - Roberto Coccurello
- European Center for Brain Research/Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Institute for Complex Systems (ISC), National Council of Research (CNR), 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Marinelli
- National Council of Research - Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Monterotondo (RM), Italy
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8
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Fiore NT, Keating BA, Chen Y, Williams SI, Moalem-Taylor G. Differential Effects of Regulatory T Cells in the Meninges and Spinal Cord of Male and Female Mice with Neuropathic Pain. Cells 2023; 12:2317. [PMID: 37759539 PMCID: PMC10527659 DOI: 10.3390/cells12182317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune cells play a critical role in promoting neuroinflammation and the development of neuropathic pain. However, some subsets of immune cells are essential for pain resolution. Among them are regulatory T cells (Tregs), a specialised subpopulation of T cells that limit excessive immune responses and preserve immune homeostasis. In this study, we utilised intrathecal adoptive transfer of activated Tregs in male and female mice after peripheral nerve injury to investigate Treg migration and whether Treg-mediated suppression of pain behaviours is associated with changes in peripheral immune cell populations in lymphoid and meningeal tissues and spinal microglial and astrocyte reactivity and phenotypes. Treatment with Tregs suppressed mechanical pain hypersensitivity and improved changes in exploratory behaviours after chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve in both male and female mice. The injected Treg cells were detected in the choroid plexus and the pia mater and in peripheral lymphoid organs in both male and female recipient mice. Nonetheless, Treg treatment resulted in differential changes in meningeal and lymph node immune cell profiles in male and female mice. Moreover, in male mice, adoptive transfer of Tregs ameliorated the CCI-induced increase in microglia reactivity and inflammatory phenotypic shift, increasing M2-like phenotypic markers and attenuating astrocyte reactivity and neurotoxic astrocytes. Contrastingly, in CCI female mice, Treg injection increased astrocyte reactivity and neuroprotective astrocytes. These findings show that the adoptive transfer of Tregs modulates meningeal and peripheral immunity, as well as spinal glial populations, and alleviates neuropathic pain, potentially through different mechanisms in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Gila Moalem-Taylor
- Translational Neuroscience Facility, Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; (N.T.F.); (B.A.K.); (Y.C.); (S.I.W.)
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9
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Barcelon E, Chung S, Lee J, Lee SJ. Sexual Dimorphism in the Mechanism of Pain Central Sensitization. Cells 2023; 12:2028. [PMID: 37626838 PMCID: PMC10453375 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
It has long been recognized that men and women have different degrees of susceptibility to chronic pain. Greater recognition of the sexual dimorphism in chronic pain has resulted in increasing numbers of both clinical and preclinical studies that have identified factors and mechanisms underlying sex differences in pain sensitization. Here, we review sexually dimorphic pain phenotypes in various research animal models and factors involved in the sex difference in pain phenotypes. We further discuss putative mechanisms for the sexual dimorphism in pain sensitization, which involves sex hormones, spinal cord microglia, and peripheral immune cells. Elucidating the sexually dimorphic mechanism of pain sensitization may provide important clinical implications and aid the development of sex-specific therapeutic strategies to treat chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellane Barcelon
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (E.B.); (S.C.); (J.L.)
| | - Seohyun Chung
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (E.B.); (S.C.); (J.L.)
| | - Jaesung Lee
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (E.B.); (S.C.); (J.L.)
- Department of Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Joong Lee
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (E.B.); (S.C.); (J.L.)
- Department of Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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10
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Modification of oestrogen signalling pathways influences cough induced by citric acid but not capsaicin in the animal model of both sexes. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2023; 312:104039. [PMID: 36842728 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2023.104039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
To clarify the role of oestrogen signalling and the role of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in the cough pathways we performed a study in which coughing was observed in both sexes animal models after the treatment by selective ERα degrader fulvestrant (ICI 182-780) and inhibitor of oestrogen synthesis danazol. Degradation of ERα with the normal plasma oestrogen levels induced by fulvestrant, significantly augments the cough response of female but not male guinea pigs. These changes were observed in citric acid-induced cough. Female guinea pigs responded with an increased count of cough expulsions per challenge time and we also detected shorter cough latency. The capsaicin-induced cough did not change. A similar response was observed after danazol treatment, which decreased the plasma oestrogen level. Our results indicate that the transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) channel-mediated cough is resistant to the hypoestrous state, while the citric acid-mediated cough is oestrogen-dependent and hypersensitive during the hypoestrous state.
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11
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Mucci V, Demori I, Browne CJ, Deblieck C, Burlando B. Fibromyalgia in Pregnancy: Neuro-Endocrine Fluctuations Provide Insight into Pathophysiology and Neuromodulation Treatment. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020615. [PMID: 36831148 PMCID: PMC9953487 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020615] [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: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain disorder with unclear pathophysiological mechanisms, which leads to challenges in patient management. In addition to pain, the disorder presents with a broad range of symptoms, such as sleep disruption, chronic fatigue, brain fog, depression, muscle stiffness, and migraine. FM has a considerable female prevalence, and it has been shown that symptoms are influenced by the menstrual cycle and periods of significant hormonal and immunological changes. There is increasing evidence that females with FM experience an aggravation of symptoms in pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester and after childbirth. In this perspective paper, we focus on the neuro-endocrine interactions that occur between progesterone, allopregnanolone, and cortisol during pregnancy, and propose that they align with our previously proposed model of FM pathogenesis based on GABAergic "weakening" in a thalamocortical neural loop system. Based on our hypothesis, we introduce the possibility of utilizing transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a non-invasive treatment potentially capable of exerting sex-specific effects on FM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Mucci
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - Ilaria Demori
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Corso Europa, 26, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Cherylea J. Browne
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
- Translational Neuroscience Facility, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Brain Stimulation and Rehabilitation (BrainStAR) Lab, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
| | - Choi Deblieck
- Antwerp Management School, University of Antwerp, Boogkeers 5, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bruno Burlando
- Department of Pharmacy, DIFAR, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
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12
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Hankerd K, Koo H, McDonough KE, Wang J, Pariyar R, Tang SJ, Chung JM, La JH. Gonadal hormone-dependent nociceptor sensitization maintains nociplastic pain state in female mice. Pain 2023; 164:402-412. [PMID: 35975896 PMCID: PMC9755459 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Nociplastic pain conditions develop predominantly in women. We recently established a murine nociplastic pain model by applying postinjury thermal (40°C) stimulation to an injured (capsaicin-injected) area, triggering a transition to a nociplastic pain state manifesting as persistent mechanical hypersensitivity outside of the previously injured area. The nociplastic pain state was centrally maintained by spinal microglia in males but peripherally by ongoing afferent activity at the previously injured area in females. Here, we investigated whether gonadal hormones are critical for the development of this peripherally maintained nociplastic pain state in females. Although the transition to a nociplastic pain state still occurred in ovariectomized females, the pain state was maintained neither by ongoing afferent activity at the previously injured area nor by spinal microglia. Estradiol reconstitution a week before the injury plus postinjury stimulation, but not after the transition had already occurred, restored the development of peripherally maintained nociplastic mechanical hypersensitivity in ovariectomized females. G protein-coupled estrogen receptor antagonism during the transition phase mimicked ovariectomy in gonad-intact females, whereas the receptor antagonism after the transition gradually alleviated the nociplastic mechanical hypersensitivity. At the previously injured area, afferents responsive to allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), a TRPA1 agonist, contributed to the maintenance of nociplastic mechanical hypersensitivity in gonad-intact females. In ex vivo skin-nerve preparations, only AITC-responsive afferents from the nociplastic pain model in gonad-intact females showed ongoing activities greater than control. These results suggest that gonadal hormones are critical for peripherally maintained nociplastic pain state in females by sensitizing AITC-responsive afferents to be persistently active.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kali Hankerd
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Ho Koo
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Kathleen E McDonough
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Jigong Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Ramesh Pariyar
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Shao-Jun Tang
- Stony Brook University Pain and Analgesia Research Center (SPARC) and Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Jin Mo Chung
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Jun-Ho La
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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13
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Sun S, Jiang W, Yan X, Zhang J, Gao L, Wu C, Zhu B, Wu L. Ligand-gated ion channel P2X7 regulates NLRP3/Caspase-1-mediated inflammatory pain caused by pulpitis in the trigeminal ganglion and medullary dorsal horn. Brain Res Bull 2023; 192:1-10. [PMID: 36328143 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Emerging research has revealed that the activation of the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes contribute to the development of inflammatory and neuropathic pains. In addition, microglia are involved in the central nervous system (CNS) pain conduction. However, the relationship between NLRP3 inflammasome and dental inflammatory pain conduction is yet to be established. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the roles of P2X7 and NLRP3/Caspase-1 (CASP1) in the inflammatory pain caused by pulpitis using a rat experimental pulpitis model. We discovered that the decreased pain threshold was inversely correlated with the increased expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1, P2X7, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-18 in the trigeminal ganglion and dorsal horn of the medulla after dental pulp exposure. Furthermore, the pain threshold of rats caused by pulpitis was increased by intraperitoneal injection of Brilliant Blue G (BBG), a P2X7 inhibitor, and the expression levels of NLRP3 and related inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18 were decreased. Moreover, treatment with 130 nM KCl, a P2X7 inhibitor, significantly reduced the expression of NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18, Caspase-1, and P2X7 in microglia after lipopolysaccharide(LPS) stimulation. In conclusion, our findings suggest that NLRP3/ CASP1 plays a vital role in the conduction of dental pain; the P2X7regulates NLRP3 pathway in the context of dental inflammatory pain conduction, and inhibiting P2X7 may be a potential strategy for dental inflammatory pain relief.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shukai Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, No.145 Western Changle Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.
| | - Wenkai Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases &Shaanxi Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Operative Dentistry & Endodontics, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, China.
| | - Xia Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, No.145 Western Changle Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, No.145 Western Changle Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.
| | - Lei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, No.145 Western Changle Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.
| | | | - Bin Zhu
- Outpatient Department, General Hospital of Tibetan Military Command Lhasa, China.
| | - Lian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, No.145 Western Changle Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.
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14
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Sex Differences in Neuropathy: The Paradigmatic Case of MetFormin. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314503. [PMID: 36498830 PMCID: PMC9738696 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314503] [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: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
As a widely prescribed anti-diabetic drug, metformin has been receiving novel attention for its analgesic potential. In the study of the complex etiology of neuropathic pain (NeP), male and female individuals exhibit quite different responses characterized by higher pain sensitivity and greater NeP incidence in women. This "gender gap" in our knowledge of sex differences in pain processing strongly limits the sex-oriented treatment of patients suffering from NeP. Besides, the current investigation of the analgesic potential of metformin has not addressed the "gender gap" problem. Hence, this study focuses on metformin and sex-dependent analgesia in a murine model of NeP induced by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. We investigated sexual dimorphism in signaling pathways involved by 7 days of metformin administration, such as changes in AMP-activated protein kinase and the positive regulation of autophagy machinery, discovering that metformin affected in a sexually dimorphic manner the immunological and inflammatory response to nerve lesion. These effects were complemented by morphological and adaptive changes occurring after peripheral nerve injury. Altogether these data can contribute to explaining a number of potential mechanisms responsible for the complete recovery from NeP found in male mice, as opposed to the failure of long-lasting recovery in female animals.
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15
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β-caryophyllene and docosahexaenoic acid, isolated or associated, have potential antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19199. [PMID: 36357780 PMCID: PMC9649594 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23842-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is a complex biological response involving the immune, autonomic, vascular, and somatosensory systems that occurs through the synthesis of inflammatory mediators and pain induction by the activation of nociceptors. Staphylococcus aureus, the main cause of bacteremia, is one of the most common and potent causes of inflammation in public health, with worse clinical outcomes in hospitals. Antioxidant substances have been evaluated as alternative therapeutic analgesics, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, antitumor agents, and bactericides. Among these, we highlight the essential oils of aromatic plants, such as β-caryophyllene (BCP), and polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological activities of BCP-DHA association in in vitro and in vivo experimental models of antinociception and inflammation. To determine the anti-inflammatory effects, monocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of adult male volunteers were infected with methicillin-resistant S. aureus and incubated with treatment for cytokine dosage and gene expression analysis. Antinociceptive effects were observed in the three models when comparing the control (saline) and the BCP-DHA treatment groups. For this purpose, the antinociceptive effects were evaluated in animal models using the following tests: acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, paw edema induced by formalin intraplantar injection, and von Frey hypernociception. There was a significant reduction in the GM-CSF, TNFα, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-12 levels and an increase in IL-10 levels in the BCP-DHA treatment groups, in addition to negative regulation of the expression of the genes involved in the intracellular inflammatory signaling cascade (IL-2, IL-6, IRF7, NLRP3, and TYK2) in all groups receiving treatment, regardless of the presence of infection. Statistically significant results (p < 0.05) were obtained in the acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test, evaluation of paw edema, evaluation of paw flinching and licking in the formalin intraplantar injection model, and the von Frey hypernociception test. Therefore, BCP and DHA, either administered individually or combined, demonstrate potent anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects.
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16
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Temmermand R, Barrett JE, Fontana ACK. Glutamatergic systems in neuropathic pain and emerging non-opioid therapies. Pharmacol Res 2022; 185:106492. [PMID: 36228868 PMCID: PMC10413816 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain, a disease of the somatosensory nervous system, afflicts many individuals and adequate management with current pharmacotherapies remains elusive. The glutamatergic system of neurons, receptors and transporters are intimately involved in pain but, to date, there have been few drugs developed that therapeutically modulate this system. Glutamate transporters, or excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs), remove excess glutamate around pain transmitting neurons to decrease nociception suggesting that the modulation of glutamate transporters may represent a novel approach to the treatment of pain. This review highlights and summarizes (1) the physiology of the glutamatergic system in neuropathic pain, (2) the preclinical evidence for dysregulation of glutamate transport in animal pain models, and (3) emerging novel therapies that modulate glutamate transporters. Successful drug discovery requires continuous focus on basic and translational methods to fully elucidate the etiologies of this disease to enable the development of targeted therapies. Increasing the efficacy of astrocytic EAATs may serve as a new way to successfully treat those suffering from this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhea Temmermand
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - James E Barrett
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Andréia C K Fontana
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.
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17
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Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (RRP) improves pain sensitization and suppresses PI3K/Akt/TRPV1 signaling pathway in estrogen deficient rats. J Funct Foods 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2022.105162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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18
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Xu Z, Xie W, Feng Y, Wang Y, Li X, Liu J, Xiong Y, He Y, Chen L, Liu G, Wu Q. Positive interaction between GPER and β-alanine in the dorsal root ganglion uncovers potential mechanisms: mediating continuous neuronal sensitization and neuroinflammation responses in neuropathic pain. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:164. [PMID: 35729568 PMCID: PMC9215054 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02524-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The pathogenesis of neuropathic pain and the reasons for the prolonged unhealing remain unknown. Increasing evidence suggests that sex oestrogen differences play a role in pain sensitivity, but few studies have focused on the oestrogen receptor which may be an important molecular component contributing to peripheral pain transduction. We aimed to investigate the impact of oestrogen receptors on the nociceptive neuronal response in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal dorsal horn using a spared nerve injury (SNI) rat model of chronic pain. Methods We intrathecally (i.t.) administered a class of oestrogen receptor antagonists and agonists intrathecal (i.t.) administrated to male rats with SNI or normal rats to identify the main receptor. Moreover, we assessed genes identified through genomic metabolic analysis to determine the key metabolism point and elucidate potential mechanisms mediating continuous neuronal sensitization and neuroinflammatory responses in neuropathic pain. The excitability of DRG neurons was detected using the patch-clamp technique. Primary culture was used to extract microglia and DRG neurons, and siRNA transfection was used to silence receptor protein expression. Immunofluorescence, Western blotting, RT-PCR and behavioural testing were used to assess the expression, cellular distribution, and actions of the main receptor and its related signalling molecules. Results Increasing the expression and function of G protein-coupled oestrogen receptor (GPER), but not oestrogen receptor-α (ERα) and oestrogen receptor-β (ERβ), in the DRG neuron and microglia, but not the dorsal spinal cord, contributed to SNI-induced neuronal sensitization. Inhibiting GPER expression in the DRG alleviated SNI-induced pain behaviours and neuroinflammation by simultaneously downregulating iNOS, IL-1β and IL-6 expression and restoring GABAα2 expression. Additionally, the positive interaction between GPER and β-alanine and subsequent β-alanine accumulation enhances pain sensation and promotes chronic pain development. Conclusion GPER activation in the DRG induces a positive association between β-alanine with iNOS, IL-1β and IL-6 expression and represses GABAα2 involved in post-SNI neuropathic pain development. Blocking GPER and eliminating β-alanine in the DRG neurons and microglia may prevent neuropathic pain development. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-022-02524-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Wanli Xie
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yiqi Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yanting Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xia Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yue Xiong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yuyao He
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Guoyang Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Qingping Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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19
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Li X, Xu Y, Li H, Jia L, Wang J, Liang S, Cai A, Tan X, Wang L, Wang X, Huang Y, Tao E, Ye H, Asakawa T. Verification of pain-related neuromodulation mechanisms of icariin in knee osteoarthritis. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 144:112259. [PMID: 34607107 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common disease with no specific treatment. Icariin (ICA) is considered an agent for KOA. This study aimed to confirm the pain-related neuromodulation mechanisms of ICA on KOA. Three experiments were designed: (1) verifying the therapeutic effects of ICA in vivo and in vitro, (2) exploring the potential pain-related neuromodulation pathways involved in ICA treatment by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and virus retrograde tracing (VRT) and (3) confirming the pain-related targets by tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics and bioinformatic analyses. Experiment 1 verified the efficacy of ICA in OA animal and cell models. Experiment 2 found a series of brain regions associated with KOA reversed by ICA treatment, indicating that a pain-related hypothalamic-mediated neuromodulation pathway and an endocannabinoid (EC)-related pathway contribute to ICA mechanisms. Experiment 3 explored and confirmed four pain-related genes involved in KOA and ICA treatment. We confirmed the key role of pain-related neuromodulation mechanisms in ICA treatment associated with its analgesic effect. Our findings contribute to considering ICA as a novel therapy for KOA.
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MESH Headings
- Analgesics/pharmacology
- Animals
- Antirheumatic Agents/pharmacology
- Arthritis, Experimental/diagnostic imaging
- Arthritis, Experimental/drug therapy
- Arthritis, Experimental/metabolism
- Arthritis, Experimental/physiopathology
- Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- Brain/diagnostic imaging
- Brain/drug effects
- Brain/metabolism
- Brain/physiopathology
- Cells, Cultured
- Chondrocytes/drug effects
- Chondrocytes/metabolism
- Flavonoids/pharmacology
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Inflammation Mediators/metabolism
- Joints/drug effects
- Joints/innervation
- Joints/metabolism
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Neuroanatomical Tract-Tracing Techniques
- Neuropeptides/genetics
- Neuropeptides/metabolism
- Osteoarthritis, Knee/diagnostic imaging
- Osteoarthritis, Knee/drug therapy
- Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism
- Osteoarthritis, Knee/physiopathology
- Pain Threshold/drug effects
- Proteomics
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Signal Transduction
- Tandem Mass Spectrometry
- Mice
- Rats
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Affiliation(s)
- Xihai Li
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Yunteng Xu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fuzhou 350122, China; Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Hui Li
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fuzhou 350122, China; Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Liangliang Jia
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fuzhou 350122, China; Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan 430071, China; Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Shengxiang Liang
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Rehabilitation Medicine Technology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China; Rehabilitation Industry Institute, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Aoling Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan 430071, China; Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xue Tan
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fuzhou 350122, China; Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Lili Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fuzhou 350122, China; Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Xiaoning Wang
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Yanfeng Huang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fuzhou 350122, China; Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Enxiang Tao
- Department of Neurology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518033, China
| | - Hongzhi Ye
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fuzhou 350122, China; Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
| | - Tetsuya Asakawa
- Department of Neurology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518033, China; Research Base of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
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20
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Shnayder NA, Sharavii VB, Petrova MM, Moskaleva PV, Pozhilenkova EA, Kaskaeva DS, Tutynina OV, Popova TE, Garganeeva NP, Nasyrova RF. Candidate Genes and Proteomic Biomarkers of Serum and Urine in Medication-Overuse Headache. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9024. [PMID: 34445731 PMCID: PMC8396559 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22169024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic headache is a topical problem of neurology, psychiatry and general practice. The medication-overuse headache (MOH) is one of the leading pathologies in the structure of chronic headache. However, early diagnosis of the MOH is challenging. We analyzed potential proteomic biomarkers of serum and urine in patients with MOH. METHODS We searched PubMed, Springer, Scopus, Web of Science, ClinicalKey, and Google Scholar databases for English publications over the past 10 years using keywords and their combinations. RESULTS We found and analyzed seven studies that met the search criteria for the purpose of the review, including 24 serum proteomic biomarkers and 25 urine proteomic biomarkers of MOH. Moreover, the candidate genes and locus of the studied serum (vitamin D-binding protein, lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase, apolipoprotein E, etc.) and urine proteomic biomarkers (uromodulin, alpha-1-microglobulin, zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein, etc.) of MOH are presented in this review. CONCLUSIONS The serum and urine proteomic biomarkers of MOH can potentially help with the identification of patients with MOH development. Due to the relevance of the problem, the authors believe that further investigation of the MOH proteomic biomarkers in different ethnic and racial groups of patients with primary headache is necessary. In addition, it is important to investigate whether medications of different drug classes influence the levels of serum and urine proteomic biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia A. Shnayder
- The Center of Personalized Psychiatry and Neurology, V. M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Neurology and Psychiatry, 192019 Saint-Petersburg, Russia;
- The Center of Collective Usage “Molecular and Cell Technologies”, V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (M.M.P.); (P.V.M.); (E.A.P.); (D.S.K.); (O.V.T.)
| | - Victoria B. Sharavii
- The International School Medicine of the Future, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina M. Petrova
- The Center of Collective Usage “Molecular and Cell Technologies”, V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (M.M.P.); (P.V.M.); (E.A.P.); (D.S.K.); (O.V.T.)
| | - Polina V. Moskaleva
- The Center of Collective Usage “Molecular and Cell Technologies”, V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (M.M.P.); (P.V.M.); (E.A.P.); (D.S.K.); (O.V.T.)
| | - Elena A. Pozhilenkova
- The Center of Collective Usage “Molecular and Cell Technologies”, V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (M.M.P.); (P.V.M.); (E.A.P.); (D.S.K.); (O.V.T.)
| | - Darya S. Kaskaeva
- The Center of Collective Usage “Molecular and Cell Technologies”, V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (M.M.P.); (P.V.M.); (E.A.P.); (D.S.K.); (O.V.T.)
| | - Olga. V. Tutynina
- The Center of Collective Usage “Molecular and Cell Technologies”, V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (M.M.P.); (P.V.M.); (E.A.P.); (D.S.K.); (O.V.T.)
| | - Tatiana E. Popova
- The Yakutsk Scientific Center for Complex Medicine Problems, The Department of Epidemiology of Non-Infectious Diseases, 677018 Yakutsk, Russia;
| | - Natalia P. Garganeeva
- The Department of General Medical Practice and Polyclinic Therapy, The Siberian State Medical University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia;
| | - Regina F. Nasyrova
- The Center of Personalized Psychiatry and Neurology, V. M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Neurology and Psychiatry, 192019 Saint-Petersburg, Russia;
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21
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Ozcivit IB, Erel CT, Durmusoglu F. Can fibromyalgia be considered a characteristic symptom of climacterium? Postgrad Med J 2021; 99:postgradmedj-2021-140336. [PMID: 34373344 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2021-140336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain syndrome, characterised by diffuse pain in musculoskeletal system and accompanied by stiffness, fatigue, tender points, sleep disturbances and cognitive and gastrointestinal symptoms. It affects middle-aged women (between 40 and 65) predominantly. Climacteric syndrome, which is characterised by vasomotor, somatic (headache, sleep disorders, myalgia and arthralgia) and psychical (mood changes) symptoms, results from the change in brain neurotransmitter concentrations due to gradual decline of ovarian hormone levels. Currently, studies focus on the similarities of FMS and climacteric syndrome in terms of age of occurrence, epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, symptomatology and treatment. Hormonal fluctuation during menopausal transition is likely the triggering factor for both syndromes. Therefore, hormone replacement therapy is a favourable approach in the treatment of FMS due to the antiallodynic, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effect of oestrogen. In this review, we emphasise the similarity of FMS and climacteric syndrome and suggested that FMS could be considered as a characteristic symptom of climacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ipek Betul Ozcivit
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Fatih, Turkey
| | - Cemal Tamer Erel
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Fatih, Turkey
| | - Fatih Durmusoglu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
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22
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Sherman K, Woyach V, Eisenach JC, Hopp FA, Cao F, Hogan QH, Dean C. Heterogeneity in patterns of pain development after nerve injury in rats and the influence of sex. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2021; 10:100069. [PMID: 34381929 PMCID: PMC8339380 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2021.100069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The genesis of neuropathic pain is complex, as sensory abnormalities may differ between patients with different or similar etiologies, suggesting mechanistic heterogeneity, a concept that is largely unexplored. Yet, data are usually grouped for analysis based on the assumption that they share the same underlying pathogenesis. Sex is a factor that may contribute to differences in pain responses. Neuropathic pain is more prevalent in female patients, but pre-clinical studies that can examine pain development in a controlled environment have typically failed to include female subjects. This study explored patterns of development of hyperalgesia-like behavior (HLB) induced by noxious mechanical stimulation in a neuropathic pain model (spared nerve injury, SNI) in both male and female rats, and autonomic dysfunction that is associated with chronic pain. HLB was analyzed across time, using both discrete mixture modeling and rules-based longitudinal clustering. Both methods identified similar groupings of hyperalgesia trajectories after SNI that were not evident when data were combined into groups by sex only. Within the same hyperalgesia development group, mixed models showed that development of HLB in females was delayed relative to males and reached a magnitude similar to or higher than males. The data also indicate that sympathetic tone (as indicated by heart rate variability) drops below pre-SNI level before or at the onset of development of HLB. This study classifies heterogeneity in individual development of HLB and identifies sexual dimorphism in the time course of development of neuropathic pain after nerve injury. Future studies addressing mechanisms underlying these differences could facilitate appropriate pain treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Sherman
- Research Division, Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53295, United States
| | - Victoria Woyach
- Research Division, Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53295, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin and Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - James C. Eisenach
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States
| | - Francis A. Hopp
- Research Division, Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53295, United States
| | - Freddy Cao
- College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53222, United States
| | - Quinn H. Hogan
- Research Division, Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53295, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin and Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - Caron Dean
- Research Division, Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53295, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin and Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
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23
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Gregus AM, Levine IS, Eddinger KA, Yaksh TL, Buczynski MW. Sex differences in neuroimmune and glial mechanisms of pain. Pain 2021; 162:2186-2200. [PMID: 34256379 PMCID: PMC8277970 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Pain is the primary motivation for seeking medical care. Although pain may subside as inflammation resolves or an injury heals, it is increasingly evident that persistency of the pain state can occur with significant regularity. Chronic pain requires aggressive management to minimize its physiological consequences and diminish its impact on quality of life. Although opioids commonly are prescribed for intractable pain, concerns regarding reduced efficacy, as well as risks of tolerance and dependence, misuse, diversion, and overdose mortality rates limit their utility. Advances in development of nonopioid interventions hinge on our appreciation of underlying mechanisms of pain hypersensitivity. For instance, the contributory role of immunity and the associated presence of autoimmune syndromes has become of particular interest. Males and females exhibit fundamental differences in innate and adaptive immune responses, some of which are present throughout life, whereas others manifest with reproductive maturation. In general, the incidence of chronic pain conditions, particularly those with likely autoimmune covariates, is significantly higher in women. Accordingly, evidence is now accruing in support of neuroimmune interactions driving sex differences in the development and maintenance of pain hypersensitivity and chronicity. This review highlights known sexual dimorphisms of neuroimmune signaling in pain states modeled in rodents, which may yield potential high-value sex-specific targets to inform future analgesic drug discovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann M Gregus
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Ian S Levine
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | | | - Tony L Yaksh
- Departments of Anesthesiology and
- Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Matthew W Buczynski
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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24
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Khir NAM, Noh ASM, Shafin N, Ismail CAN. Contribution of P2X4 receptor in pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis: a review. Purinergic Signal 2021; 17:201-213. [PMID: 33594635 PMCID: PMC8155137 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-021-09764-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pain is the most common symptom reported by patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) even after the resolution of chronic joint inflammation. It is believed that RA-associated pain is not solely due to inflammation, but could also be attributed to aberrant modifications to the central nervous system. The P2X4 receptor (P2X4R) is an ATP-activated purinergic receptor that plays a significant role in the transmission of information in the nervous system and pain. The involvement of P2X4R during the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory pain and neuropathic pain is well-established. The attenuation of this receptor alleviates disease pathogenesis and related symptoms, including hyperalgesia and allodynia. Although some studies have revealed the contribution of P2X4R in promoting joint inflammation in RA, how it implicates pain associated with RA at peripheral and central nervous systems is still lacking. In this review, the possible contributions of P2X4R in the nervous system and how it implicates pain transmission and responses were examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurul Ajilah Mohamed Khir
- International Medical School, Management and Science University, 40100 Shah Alam, Selangor Malaysia
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan Malaysia
| | - Ain’ Sabreena Mohd Noh
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan Malaysia
| | - Nazlahshaniza Shafin
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan Malaysia
| | - Che Aishah Nazariah Ismail
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan Malaysia
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25
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Vacca V, Marinelli S, De Angelis F, Angelini DF, Piras E, Battistini L, Pavone F, Coccurello R. Sexually Dimorphic Immune and Neuroimmune Changes Following Peripheral Nerve Injury in Mice: Novel Insights for Gender Medicine. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094397. [PMID: 33922372 PMCID: PMC8122838 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain (NeP) in humans is often a life-long condition with no effective therapy available. The higher incidence of female gender in NeP onset is worldwide reported, and although the cause is generally attributed to sex hormones, the actual mechanisms and the players involved are still unclear. Glial and immune cells take part in NeP development, and orchestrate the neuroimmune and inflammatory response, releasing pro-inflammatory factors with chemoattractant properties that activate resident immune cells and recruit immune cells from circulation. The neuro-immune crosstalk is a key contributor to pain hypersensitivity following peripheral nervous system injury. Our previous works showed that in spite of the fact that female mice had an earlier analgesic response than males following nerve lesion, the recovery from NeP was never complete, suggesting that this difference could occur in the very early stages after injury. To further investigate gender differences in immune and neuroimmune responses to NeP, we studied the main immune cells and mediators elicited both in plasma and sciatic nerves by peripheral nerve lesion. After injury, we found a different pattern of distribution of immune cell populations showing either a higher infiltration of T cells in nerves from females or a higher infiltration of macrophages in nerves from males. Moreover, in comparison to male mice, the levels of cytokines and chemokines were differently up- and down-regulated in blood and nerve lysates from female mice. Our study provides some novel insights for the understanding of gender-associated differences in the generation and perseveration of NeP as well as for the isolation of specific neurodegenerative mechanisms underlying NeP. The identification of gender-associated inflammatory profiles in neuropathy is of key importance for the development of differential biomarkers and gender-specific personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Vacca
- CNR-National Research Council, CNR, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Rome, Italy; (V.V.); (S.M.); (F.D.A.)
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy; (D.F.A.); (E.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Sara Marinelli
- CNR-National Research Council, CNR, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Rome, Italy; (V.V.); (S.M.); (F.D.A.)
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy; (D.F.A.); (E.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Federica De Angelis
- CNR-National Research Council, CNR, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Rome, Italy; (V.V.); (S.M.); (F.D.A.)
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy; (D.F.A.); (E.P.); (L.B.)
| | | | - Eleonora Piras
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy; (D.F.A.); (E.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Luca Battistini
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy; (D.F.A.); (E.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Flaminia Pavone
- CNR-National Research Council, CNR, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Rome, Italy; (V.V.); (S.M.); (F.D.A.)
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy; (D.F.A.); (E.P.); (L.B.)
- Correspondence: (F.P.); (R.C.)
| | - Roberto Coccurello
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy; (D.F.A.); (E.P.); (L.B.)
- CNR-National Research Council, CNR, Institute for Complex System (ISC), via dei Taurini 19, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.P.); (R.C.)
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26
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Current Understanding of the Involvement of the Insular Cortex in Neuropathic Pain: A Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052648. [PMID: 33808020 PMCID: PMC7961886 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is difficult to cure and is often accompanied by emotional and psychological changes. Exploring the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain will help to identify a better treatment for this condition. The insular cortex is an important information integration center. Numerous imaging studies have documented increased activity of the insular cortex in the presence of neuropathic pain; however, the specific role of this region remains controversial. Early studies suggested that the insular lobe is mainly involved in the processing of the emotional motivation dimension of pain. However, increasing evidence suggests that the role of the insular cortex is more complex and may even be related to the neural plasticity, cognitive evaluation, and psychosocial aspects of neuropathic pain. These effects contribute not only to the development of neuropathic pain, but also to its comorbidity with neuropsychiatric diseases. In this review, we summarize the changes that occur in the insular cortex in the presence of neuropathic pain and analgesia, as well as the molecular mechanisms that may underlie these conditions. We also discuss potential sex-based differences in these processes. Further exploration of the involvement of the insular lobe will contribute to the development of new pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy treatments for neuropathic pain.
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27
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Chen Q, Zhang W, Sadana N, Chen X. Estrogen receptors in pain modulation: cellular signaling. Biol Sex Differ 2021; 12:22. [PMID: 33568220 PMCID: PMC7877067 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-021-00364-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory perception and emotional disorders are disproportionally represented in men and women and are thus thought to be modulated by different sex hormones in various conditions. Among the most important hormones perceived to affect sensory processing and transduction is estrogen. Numerous previous researchers have endeavored to demonstrate that estrogen is capable of modulating the activity of sensory neurons in peripheral and central sites in female, male, or castrated animals. However, the underlying mechanisms of its modulation of neuronal activity are somewhat unclear. In the present review, we discuss the possible cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the modulation of nociception by estrogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Chen
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenxin Zhang
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Neeti Sadana
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, USA
| | - Xinzhong Chen
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
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28
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Physiopathological Role of Neuroactive Steroids in the Peripheral Nervous System. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239000. [PMID: 33256238 PMCID: PMC7731236 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Peripheral neuropathy (PN) refers to many conditions involving damage to the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Usually, PN causes weakness, numbness and pain and is the result of traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited causes, or exposure to chemicals. Despite the high prevalence of PN, available treatments are still unsatisfactory. Neuroactive steroids (i.e., steroid hormones synthesized by peripheral glands as well as steroids directly synthesized in the nervous system) represent important physiological regulators of PNS functionality. Data obtained so far and here discussed, indeed show that in several experimental models of PN the levels of neuroactive steroids are affected by the pathology and that treatment with these molecules is able to exert protective effects on several PN features, including neuropathic pain. Of note, the observations that neuroactive steroid levels are sexually dimorphic not only in physiological status but also in PN, associated with the finding that PN show sex dimorphic manifestations, may suggest the possibility of a sex specific therapy based on neuroactive steroids.
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29
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Franco-Enzástiga Ú, García G, Murbartián J, González-Barrios R, Salinas-Abarca AB, Sánchez-Hernández B, Tavares-Ferreira D, Herrera LA, Barragán-Iglesias P, Delgado-Lezama R, Price TJ, Granados-Soto V. Sex-dependent pronociceptive role of spinal α 5 -GABA A receptor and its epigenetic regulation in neuropathic rodents. J Neurochem 2020; 156:897-916. [PMID: 32750173 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Extrasynaptic α5 -subunit containing GABAA (α5 -GABAA ) receptors participate in chronic pain. Previously, we reported a sex difference in the action of α5 -GABAA receptors in dysfunctional pain. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to examine this sexual dimorphism in neuropathic rodents and the mechanisms involved. Female and male Wistar rats or ICR mice were subjected to nerve injury followed by α5 -GABAA receptor inverse agonist intrathecal administration, L-655,708. The drug produced an antiallodynic effect in nerve-injured female rats and mice, and a lower effect in males. We hypothesized that changes in α5 -GABAA receptor, probably influenced by hormonal and epigenetic status, might underlie this sex difference. Thus, we performed qPCR and western blot. Nerve injury increased α5 -GABAA mRNA and protein in female dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and decreased them in DRG and spinal cord of males. To investigate the hormonal influence over α5 -GABAA receptor actions, we performed nerve injury to ovariectomized rats and reconstituted them with 17β-estradiol (E2). Ovariectomy abrogated L-655,708 antiallodynic effect and E2 restored it. Ovariectomy decreased α5 -GABAA receptor and estrogen receptor α protein in DRG of neuropathic female rats, while E2 enhanced them. Since DNA methylation might contribute to α5 -GABAA receptor down-regulation in males, we examined CpG island DNA methylation of α5 -GABAA receptor coding gene through pyrosequencing. Nerve injury increased methylation in male, but not female rats. Pharmacological inhibition of DNA methyltransferases increased α5 -GABAA receptor and enabled L-655,708 antinociceptive effect in male rats. These results suggest that α5 -GABAA receptor is a suitable target to treat chronic pain in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Úrzula Franco-Enzástiga
- Neurobiology of Pain Laboratory, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe García
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Janet Murbartián
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Ana B Salinas-Abarca
- Neurobiology of Pain Laboratory, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Beatriz Sánchez-Hernández
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Diana Tavares-Ferreira
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Luis A Herrera
- Cancer Biomedical Research Unit, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Paulino Barragán-Iglesias
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for Basic Sciences, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - Rodolfo Delgado-Lezama
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Cinvestav, Zacatenco, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Theodore J Price
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Vinicio Granados-Soto
- Neurobiology of Pain Laboratory, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, South Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
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30
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Ceccarelli I, Fiorenzani P, Pessina F, Pinassi J, Aglianò M, Miragliotta V, Aloisi AM. The CB2 Agonist β-Caryophyllene in Male and Female Rats Exposed to a Model of Persistent Inflammatory Pain. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:850. [PMID: 33013287 PMCID: PMC7461959 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoids help in pain treatment through their action on CB1 and CB2 receptors. β-caryophyllene (BCP), an ancient remedy to treat pain, is a sesquiterpene found in large amounts in the essential oils of various spice and food plants such as oregano, cinnamon, and black pepper. It binds to the CB2 receptor, acting as a full agonist. Sex differences in the BCP-induced analgesic effect were studied by exposing male and female rats to a persistent/repeated painful stimulation. To simulate treatment of a repeated inflammatory condition, after the first formalin injection (FT1; 50 μl, 2.5%), rats received BCP per os for 7 days at two dosages: 5 and 10 mg/kg dissolved in olive oil (OIL). The control group was treated with OIL for 7 days. On day 8, the formalin test was repeated (FT2) with a lower formalin concentration (50 μl, 1%). During the first and second formalin tests, pain-induced responses (licking, flexing, and paw jerk) and spontaneous behaviors were recorded and analyzed. In the FT1 (before the beginning of treatment with BCP), females displayed higher pain responses than did males in terms of flexing duration during the first part of the test (I phase and interphase), while during the second part (II phase early and late) males showed higher levels than did females in licking duration. In the FT2, the pain responses generally decreased in the BCP groups in a dose-dependent manner (i.e., greater effect of BCP10), with a more pronounced reduction in males than in females; moreover, the pain responses remained high in the OIL groups and in the female BCP5 group. In conclusion, long-term intake of BCP appears to be able to decrease pain behaviors in a model of repeated inflammatory pain in both sexes, but to a greater degree in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Ceccarelli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Paolo Fiorenzani
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Federica Pessina
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Jessica Pinassi
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Margherita Aglianò
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Anna Maria Aloisi
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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31
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Baptista-de-Souza D, Tavares-Ferreira D, Megat S, Sankaranarayanan I, Shiers S, Flores CM, Ghosh S, Luiz Nunes-de-Souza R, Canto-de-Souza A, Price TJ. Sex differences in the role of atypical PKC within the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala in a mouse hyperalgesic priming model. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2020; 8:100049. [PMID: 32548337 PMCID: PMC7284072 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2020.100049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Though sex differences in chronic pain have been consistently described in the literature, their underlying neural mechanisms are poorly understood. Previous work in humans has demonstrated that men and women differentially invoke distinct brain regions and circuits in coping with subjective pain unpleasantness. The goal of the present work was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) that modulate hyperalgesic priming, a pain plasticity model, in males and females. We used plantar incision as the first, priming stimulus and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) as the second stimulus. We sought to assess whether hyperalgesic priming can be prevented or reversed by pharmacologically manipulating molecular targets in the BLA of male or female mice. We found that administering ZIP, a cell-permeable inhibitor of aPKC, into the BLA attenuated aspects of hyperalgesic priming induced by plantar incision in males and females. However, incision only upregulated PKCζ/PKMζ immunoreactivity in the BLA of male mice, and deficits in hyperalgesic priming were seen only when we restricted our analysis to male Prkcz-/- mice. On the other hand, intra-BLA microinjections of pep2m, a peptide that interferes with the trafficking and function of GluA2-containing AMPA receptors, a downstream target of aPKC, reduced mechanical hypersensitivity after plantar incision and disrupted the development of hyperalgesic priming in both male and female mice. In addition, pep2m treatment reduced facial grimacing and restored aberrant behavioral responses in the sucrose splash test in male and female primed mice. Immunofluorescence results demonstrated upregulation of GluA2 expression in the BLA of male and female primed mice, consistent with pep2m findings. We conclude that, in a model of incision-induced hyperalgesic priming, PKCζ/PKMζ in the BLA is critical for the development of hyperalgesic priming in males, while GluA2 in the BLA is crucial for the expression of both reflexive and affective pain-related behaviors in both male and female mice in this model. Our findings add to a growing body of evidence of sex differences in molecular pain mechanisms in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Baptista-de-Souza
- Dept. Psychology, Federal University of Sao Carlos-UFSCar, Sao Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil
- University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, United States
| | - Diana Tavares-Ferreira
- University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, United States
| | - Salim Megat
- University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, United States
| | - Ishwarya Sankaranarayanan
- University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, United States
| | - Stephanie Shiers
- University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, United States
| | - Christopher M. Flores
- Janssen Research & Development, Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Sourav Ghosh
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, United States
| | - Ricardo Luiz Nunes-de-Souza
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences UFSCar/UNESP, São Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil
- Lab. Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Univ. Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Araraquara, SP 14800-903, Brazil
| | - Azair Canto-de-Souza
- Dept. Psychology, Federal University of Sao Carlos-UFSCar, Sao Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences UFSCar/UNESP, São Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Psychology UFSCar, São Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Theodore J. Price
- University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, United States
- Corresponding author at: University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 800 W Campbell Rd., BSB 14.102, Richardson, TX 75080, United States.
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Acosta-Martínez M. Shaping Microglial Phenotypes Through Estrogen Receptors: Relevance to Sex-Specific Neuroinflammatory Responses to Brain Injury and Disease. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2020; 375:223-236. [DOI: 10.1124/jpet.119.264598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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Khakpay R, Azaddar M, Khakpai F. Involvement of glutamate receptors of the paragigantocellularis lateralis nucleus in the pain modulatory effect of 17β-estradiol in male rats. Acta Neurol Belg 2020; 120:653-660. [PMID: 30132138 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-018-0998-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The pain modulatory role of the paragigantocellularis lateralis nucleus (LPGi) and the 17β-estradiol has thoroughly been probed. This study investigates the contribution of ionotropic glutamate receptors in pain modulatory effect of intra-LPGi injection of 17β-estradiol. For this purpose, the LPGi nucleus cannulation was performed and drugs were injected into this nucleus, 15 min prior to the formalin test. The duration of formalin-induced flexing and licking behaviors was recorded for 60 min immediately after formalin injection. The results showed that the flexing behavior is significantly decreased by intra-LPGi injection of 0.8 µmol 17β-estradiol duringboth phases of formalin test (P < 0.001). However, 17β-estradiol attenuated the licking duration only in the second phase (P < 0.001). Interestingly, NMDA and AMPA/kainate receptor antagonists (AP5 and CNQX, respectively) significantly counteracted the analgesic effect of intra-LPGi injection of 17β-estradiol in both phases of the formalin test (P < 0.001). Consequently, the revealing results showed that the analgesic effect of intra-LPGi injection of 17β-estradiol on acute inflammatory pain might be mediated via the activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors.
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Noh MC, Mikler B, Joy T, Smith PA. Time Course of Inflammation in Dorsal Root Ganglia Correlates with Differential Reversibility of Mechanical Allodynia. Neuroscience 2020; 428:199-216. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.12.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Xu ZZ, Chen QY, Deng SY, Zhang M, Tan CY, Yang Wang, Ma KT, Li L, Si JQ, Zhu LC. 17β-Estradiol Attenuates Neuropathic Pain Caused by Spared Nerve Injury by Upregulating CIC-3 in the Dorsal Root Ganglion of Ovariectomized Rats. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1205. [PMID: 31787875 PMCID: PMC6856564 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
17β-estradiol plays a role in pain sensitivity, analgesic drug efficacy, and neuropathic pain prevalence, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated whether voltage-gated chloride channel-3 (ClC-3) impacts the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) on spared nerve injury (SNI)-induced neuropathic pain in ovariectomized (OVX) female Sprague Dawley rats that were divided into OVX, OVX + SNI, OVX + SNI + E2, OVX + SNI + E2 + DMSO (vehicle, dimethyl sulfoxide), or OVX + SNI + E2+Cltx (ClC-3-blocker chlorotoxin) groups. Changes in ClC-3 protein expression were monitored by western blot analysis. Behavioral testing used the paw withdrawal threshold to acetone irritation and paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) to thermal stimulation. Immunofluorescence indicated the localization and protein expression levels of ClC-3. OVX + SNI + E2 rats were subcutaneously injected with 17β-estradiol once daily for 7 days; a sheathed tube was implanted, and chlorotoxin was injected for 4 days. Intrathecal Cltx to OVX and OVX + SNI rats was administered for 4 consecutive days (days 7–10 after SNI) to further determine the contribution of ClC-3 to neuropathic pain. Patch clamp technology in current clamp mode was used to measure the current threshold (rheobase) dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and the minimal current that evoked action potentials (APs) as excitability parameters. The mean number of APs at double-strength rheobase verified neuronal excitability. There was no difference in behaviors and ClC-3 expression after OVX. Compared with OVX + SNI rats, OVX + SNI + E2 rats showed a lower paw withdrawal threshold to the acetone stimulus, but the PWTL was not significantly different, indicating increased sensitivity to cold but not to thermal pain. Co-immunofluorescent data revealed that ClC-3 was mainly distributed in A- and C-type nociceptive neurons, especially in medium/small-sized neurons. 17β-estradiol administration was associated with increased expression of ClC-3. 17β-estradiol-induced increase in ClC-3 expression was blocked by co-administration of Cltx. Cltx causes hyperalgesia and decreased expression of ClC-3 in OVX rats. Patch clamp results suggested that 17β-estradiol attenuated the excitability of neurons induced by SNI by up-regulating the expression of ClC-3 in the DRG of OVX rats. 17β-estradiol administration significantly improved cold allodynia thresholds in OVX rats with SNI. The mechanism for this decreased sensitivity may be related to the upregulation of ClC-3 expression in the DRG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Zhen Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Disease, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| | - Qin-Yi Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Disease, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| | - Shi-Yu Deng
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Disease, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Chao-Yang Tan
- Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Disease, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Disease, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Ke-Tao Ma
- Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Disease, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Disease, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, Medical College of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Jun-Qiang Si
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Disease, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Li-Cang Zhu
- Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Disease, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
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Nakatani-Enomoto S, Yamazaki M, Kamimura Y, Abe M, Asano K, Enomoto H, Wake K, Watanabe S, Ugawa Y. Frequency-dependent current perception threshold in healthy Japanese adults. Bioelectromagnetics 2019; 40:150-159. [PMID: 30920674 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of the study involves measuring the threshold for electric currents (i.e., current perception threshold or CPT) under several stimulating current frequencies. Specifically, current perception threshold (CPT) was measured in 53 healthy volunteers between the ages of 21 and 67. The stimulation currents were applied on the right index finger with stimulus frequencies in the range of 50 Hz - 300 kHz. The method of limits and method of constant stimuli were combined to measure the CPT. In a manner consistent with the findings obtained by previous studies, the results indicated that CPT was higher in men than in women and in older individuals than in young subjects. Bioelectromagnetics. 9999:XX-XX, 2019. © 2019 Bioelectromagnetics Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Setsu Nakatani-Enomoto
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Madoka Yamazaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.,Department of Health Science, Daito Bunka University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Kamimura
- Department of Information Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Mitsunari Abe
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kohei Asano
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Enomoto
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kanako Wake
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, Applied Electromagnetic Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Soichi Watanabe
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, Applied Electromagnetic Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Ugawa
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.,Fukushima Global Medical Science Center, Advanced Clinical Research Center, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
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Targeting the Nav1.8 ion channel engenders sex-specific responses in lysophosphatidic acid-induced joint neuropathy. Pain 2019; 160:269-278. [PMID: 30211781 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Joint neuropathic pain occurs in a subset of arthritis patients, and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) has been implicated as a mediator of joint neuropathy. The mechanism by which LPA promotes neuropathic pain is unknown but may be related to altered signalling of the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.8 located on nociceptors. Because arthritis and neuropathic pain are more prevalent in females, this study aimed to explore potential sex differences in the development of LPA-induced joint neuropathy and whether Nav1.8 played a role in the associated neuropathic pain. Joint neuropathy was induced in male and female Wistar rats (179-284 g) by intra-articular injection of 50-µg LPA. Pain behaviour was assessed over 21 days using von Frey hair algesiometry. On day 21, electrophysiological recordings of joint primary afferents were conducted to measure peripheral sensitisation. Saphenous nerve morphology and expression of the nerve-damage marker ATF3 and Nav1.8 in ipsilateral dorsal root ganglions were compared on the basis of sex. The analgesic properties of the selective Nav1.8 antagonist A-803467 was determined in pain behaviour and electrophysiology experiments. Females developed more severe mechanical allodynia than males after LPA treatment. Lysophosphatidic acid caused more pronounced demyelination of the saphenous nerve in females, but no sex differences were observed in the expression of ATF3 or Nav1.8 in dorsal root ganglion neurones. Blockade of Nav1.8 channels with A-803467 resulted in a decrease in joint mechanosensitivity and secondary allodynia with females exhibiting a greater response. These findings suggest that LPA has sex-specific effects on joint neuropathy and Nav1.8 gating, which should be considered when treating neuropathic arthritis patients.
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Innovative mouse model mimicking human-like features of spinal cord injury: efficacy of Docosahexaenoic acid on acute and chronic phases. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8883. [PMID: 31222077 PMCID: PMC6586623 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45037-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injury has dramatic consequences and a huge social impact. We propose a new mouse model of spinal trauma that induces a complete paralysis of hindlimbs, still observable 30 days after injury. The contusion, performed without laminectomy and deriving from the pressure exerted directly on the bone, mimics more closely many features of spinal injury in humans. Spinal cord was injured at thoracic level 10 (T10) in adult anesthetized female CD1 mice, mounted on stereotaxic apparatus and connected to a precision impactor device. Following severe injury, we evaluated motor and sensory functions, and histological/morphological features of spinal tissue at different time points. Moreover, we studied the effects of early and subchronic administration of Docosahexaenoic acid, investigating functional responses, structural changes proximal and distal to the lesion in primary and secondary injury phases, proteome modulation in injured spinal cord. Docosahexaenoic acid was able i) to restore behavioural responses and ii) to induce pro-regenerative effects and neuroprotective action against demyelination, apoptosis and neuroinflammation. Considering the urgent health challenge represented by spinal injury, this new and reliable mouse model together with the positive effects of docosahexaenoic acid provide important translational implications for promising therapeutic approaches for spinal cord injuries.
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Stephens KE, Zhou W, Ji Z, Chen Z, He S, Ji H, Guan Y, Taverna SD. Sex differences in gene regulation in the dorsal root ganglion after nerve injury. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:147. [PMID: 30782122 PMCID: PMC6381758 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5512-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pain is a subjective experience derived from complex interactions among biological, environmental, and psychosocial pathways. Sex differences in pain sensitivity and chronic pain prevalence are well established. However, the molecular basis underlying these sex dimorphisms are poorly understood particularly with regard to the role of the peripheral nervous system. Here we sought to identify shared and distinct gene networks functioning in the peripheral nervous systems that may contribute to sex differences of pain in rats after nerve injury. RESULTS We performed RNA-seq on dorsal root ganglia following chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve in male and female rats. Analysis from paired naive and injured tissues showed that 1513 genes were differentially expressed between sexes. Genes which facilitated synaptic transmission in naïve and injured females did not show increased expression in males. CONCLUSIONS Appreciating sex-related gene expression differences and similarities in neuropathic pain models may help to improve the translational relevance to clinical populations and efficacy of clinical trials of this major health issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly E. Stephens
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Center for Epigenetics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Weiqiang Zhou
- Department of Biostatics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Zhicheng Ji
- Department of Biostatics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Zhiyong Chen
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Shaoqiu He
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Hongkai Ji
- Department of Biostatics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Yun Guan
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Sean D. Taverna
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Center for Epigenetics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
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Pham TL, Kakazu A, He J, Bazan HEP. Mouse strains and sexual divergence in corneal innervation and nerve regeneration. FASEB J 2018; 33:4598-4609. [PMID: 30561223 PMCID: PMC6404582 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801957r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A variety of mouse strains and sexes are used in studies of corneal wound healing and nerve regeneration. However, there is a gap of knowledge about corneal nerve density and its function in different mouse strains and sexes. In this study, we report a strain divergence of total and substance P (SP) sensory corneal nerves in uninjured mice. The BALB/c mouse showed the highest nerve density, corneal sensitivity, and tear volume followed by CFW and then C57BL/6. No differences were found in total nerves and SP-positive nerves between sexes. After injury damaged the corneal nerves, an important role for mouse strains, biologic sex, and their association to corneal nerve regeneration was identified. All female mice have a faster nerve regeneration rate than males. The molecular mechanism of this sexual divergence involves higher secretion neurotrophic factors in tears, which in turn modulate gene expression in trigeminal ganglion neurons. An important upstream signaling regulator was β-estradiol, and topical treatment with β-estradiol confirmed its function in corneal nerve regeneration. In conclusion, our study shows that the strain and sex of laboratory mice significantly affect the different indicators of corneal innervation and nerve regeneration. Researchers investigating corneal diseases should carefully consider these factors.—Pham, T. L., Kakazu, A., He, J., Bazan, H. E. P. Mouse strains and sexual divergence in corneal innervation and nerve regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thang Luong Pham
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; and
| | - Azucena Kakazu
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; and
| | - Jiucheng He
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; and.,Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Haydee E P Bazan
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; and.,Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Estrogen alleviates neuropathic pain induced after spinal cord injury by inhibiting microglia and astrocyte activation. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2018; 1864:2472-2480. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Cao L, Malon JT. Anti-nociceptive Role of CXCL1 in a Murine Model of Peripheral Nerve Injury-induced Neuropathic Pain. Neuroscience 2018; 372:225-236. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.12.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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43
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Hernandez-Leon A, De la Luz-Cuellar YE, Granados-Soto V, González-Trujano ME, Fernández-Guasti A. Sex differences and estradiol involvement in hyperalgesia and allodynia in an experimental model of fibromyalgia. Horm Behav 2018; 97:39-46. [PMID: 29080671 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a musculoskeletal chronic pain syndrome. Its prevalence in women is higher than in men possibly by hormonal factors given that symptoms are aggravated during sex hormone-related events, such as the premenstrual period, pregnancy, postpartum or menopause. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether hyperalgesia and allodynia, in reserpine-induced experimental FM, depend on sex, estrous cycle, ovariectomy and replacement with 17β-estradiol. To fulfill this objective, we compared males, intact females with known estrous cycle phases and ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated with 17β-estradiol. Data demonstrated that reserpine administration disrupted the normal estrous cycle and produced that all females entered metestrus/diestrus. In addition, this treatment leads to muscle hyperalgesia and tactile allodynia in a similar manner in male and intact female rats. However, the absence of ovarian hormones (in OVX rats) increased muscle nociception. 17β-estradiol (2.5-10μg/rat) produced antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects 24h, but not 8h, after its administration, suggesting a genomic mechanism. The present results support the validity of the reserpine-induced FM model for searching alternatives of treatment, particularly during endocrine phases when pain is exacerbated such as menopause, and that 17β-estradiol replacement might be useful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Hernandez-Leon
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, Unidad Coapa, Calz. De los Tenorios 235, Col. Granjas Coapa, 14330 Mexico City, Mexico; Dirección de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calz. México-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo, Huipulco, 14370 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yarim Elideth De la Luz-Cuellar
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, Unidad Coapa, Calz. De los Tenorios 235, Col. Granjas Coapa, 14330 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Vinicio Granados-Soto
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, Unidad Coapa, Calz. De los Tenorios 235, Col. Granjas Coapa, 14330 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - María Eva González-Trujano
- Dirección de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calz. México-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo, Huipulco, 14370 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alonso Fernández-Guasti
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav, Unidad Coapa, Calz. De los Tenorios 235, Col. Granjas Coapa, 14330 Mexico City, Mexico.
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Schertzinger M, Wesson-Sides K, Parkitny L, Younger J. Daily Fluctuations of Progesterone and Testosterone Are Associated With Fibromyalgia Pain Severity. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2017; 19:410-417. [PMID: 29248511 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this longitudinal blood sampling study was to examine relationships between sex hormones and fibromyalgia pain. Eight women meeting case definition criteria for fibromyalgia provided venous blood samples and reported their fibromyalgia pain severity over 25 consecutive days. All women exhibited normal menstrual cycles and were not taking oral contraceptives. Cortisol, and the sex hormones estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, were assayed from serum. A linear mixed model was used to determine if fluctuations of sex hormones were associated with changes in pain severity. In the entire sample, day to day changes in progesterone (P = .002) as well as testosterone (P = .015) were significantly and inversely correlated with pain severity. There was no relationship between estradiol and pain (P = .551) or cortisol and pain (P = .633). These results suggest that progesterone and testosterone play a protective role in fibromyalgia pain severity. Sex and other hormones may serve to increase as well as decrease fibromyalgia pain severity. PERSPECTIVE Sex hormones fluctuate normally in women with fibromyalgia, but may still contribute to pain severity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kate Wesson-Sides
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Psychology, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Luke Parkitny
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Psychology, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Jarred Younger
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Psychology, Birmingham, Alabama.
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Rosen S, Ham B, Mogil JS. Sex differences in neuroimmunity and pain. J Neurosci Res 2017; 95:500-508. [PMID: 27870397 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 210] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Revised: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Differences in the prevalence of chronic pain in women vs. men are well known, and decades of laboratory experimentation have demonstrated that women are more sensitive to pain than are men. Attention has thus shifted to investigating mechanisms underlying such differences. Recent evidence suggests that neuroimmune modulation of pain may represent an important cause of sex differences. The current Review examines the evidence for gonadal hormone modulation of the immune system, immune system modulation of pain, and interactions that might help to explain sex differences in pain. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Rosen
- Department of Psychology and Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Boram Ham
- Department of Psychology and Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jeffrey S Mogil
- Department of Psychology and Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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46
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Abstract
In the world of pain, we must always consider the presence of gender. In nociception, as well as in pain, women are different from men in many, if not all, aspects of the system. Nociception is the sum of several events that occur from the periphery to the CNS, and there is much evidence that female nociception differs from male nociception. Moreover, it has to be considered that pain results from a male or a female cortex. Genetic, anatomical, physiological, hormonal, psychological, and social factors have been considered to explain the differences present at both levels. Notwithstanding all the evidence, it is still difficult to observe the application of this knowledge to the treatment of pain. Drugs are still given per kilogram, and clinical studies, albeit including women, often mix data from both sexes. Moreover, reports on these studies often fail to mention the women’s age and reproductive status, i.e., sex hormones. Hormone levels vary from hour to hour, from day to day, and, as repeatedly confirmed, are affected by several pain killers commonly used in pain therapy. All the data confirm the urgent need to include sex differences and sex hormones among the key factors that play an important role in pain and pain treatment.
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Onodera Y, Kanao-Kanda M, Kanda H, Sasakawa T, Iwasaki H, Kunisawa T. Pregnancy suppresses neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury in rats through the inhibition of TNF-α. J Pain Res 2017; 10:567-574. [PMID: 28331359 PMCID: PMC5349853 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s121810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Pregnancy-induced analgesia develops during late pregnancy, but it is unclear whether this analgesia is effective against neuropathic pain. The detailed molecular mechanisms underlying pregnancy-induced analgesia have not been investigated. We examined the antinociceptive effect of pregnancy-induced analgesia in a neuropathic pain model and the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), Iba-1, and c-Fos in the spinal dorsal horn just before parturition. Materials and methods Female Sprague Dawley rats (200–250 g) were randomly assigned to one of four groups (pregnant + chronic constriction injury [CCI]; pregnant + sham injury; not pregnant + CCI; and not pregnant + sham injury). Separate groups were used for the behavioral and tissue analyses. CCI of the left sciatic nerve was surgically induced 3 days after confirming pregnancy in the pregnancy group or on day 3 in the not pregnant group. The spinal cord was extracted 18 days after CCI. TNF-α, GFAP, Iba-1, and c-Fos expression levels in the spinal dorsal horn were measured by Western blot analysis. Mechanical threshold was tested using von Frey filaments. Results The lowered mechanical threshold induced by CCI was significantly attenuated within 1 day before parturition and decreased after delivery. TNF-α expression in CCI rats was decreased within 1 day before parturition. Further, GFAP, Iba-1, and c-Fos expression in the spinal dorsal horn was reduced in the pregnant rats. Serum TNF-α in all groups was below measurable limits. Conclusion Our findings indicate that pregnancy-induced analgesia suppresses neuropathic pain through reducing spinal levels of TNF-α, GFAP, Iba-1, and c-Fos in a rat model of CCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiko Onodera
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Megumi Kanao-Kanda
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hirotsugu Kanda
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Tomoki Sasakawa
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Iwasaki
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kunisawa
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Hokkaido, Japan
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Serum protein changes in a rat model of chronic pain show a correlation between animal and humans. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41723. [PMID: 28145509 PMCID: PMC5286399 DOI: 10.1038/srep41723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In previous works we showed the overexpression of some proteins in biological fluids from patients suffering chronic pain. In this proteomic study we analysed serum from a rat model of neuropathic pain obtained by the chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve, at two time intervals, 2 and 5 weeks after the insult, to find proteins involved in the expression or mediation of pain. Sham-operated and CCI rats were treated with saline or indomethacin. Two weeks after ligation, we identified three serum proteins overexpressed in CCI rats, two of which, alpha-1-macroglobulin and vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP), remained increased 5 weeks post-surgery; at this time interval, we found increased levels of further proteins, namely apolipoprotein A-I (APOA1), apolipoprotein E (APOE), prostaglandin-H2 D-isomerase (PTGDS) and transthyretin (TTR), that overlap the overexpressed proteins found in humans. Indomethacin treatment reversed the effects of ligation. The qPCR analysis showed that transcript levels of APOA1, APOE, PTGDS and VDBP were overexpressed in the lumbar spinal cord (origin of sciatic nerve), but not in the striatum (an unrelated brain region), of CCI rats treated with saline 5 weeks after surgery, demonstrating that the lumbar spinal cord is a possible source of these proteins.
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Shenoy PA, Kuo A, Vetter I, Smith MT. The Walker 256 Breast Cancer Cell- Induced Bone Pain Model in Rats. Front Pharmacol 2016; 7:286. [PMID: 27630567 PMCID: PMC5005431 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of patients with terminal breast cancer show signs of bone metastasis, the most common cause of pain in cancer. Clinically available drug treatment options for the relief of cancer-associated bone pain are limited due to either inadequate pain relief and/or dose-limiting side-effects. One of the major hurdles in understanding the mechanism by which breast cancer causes pain after metastasis to the bones is the lack of suitable preclinical models. Until the late twentieth century, all animal models of cancer induced bone pain involved systemic injection of cancer cells into animals, which caused severe deterioration of animal health due to widespread metastasis. In this mini-review we have discussed details of a recently developed and highly efficient preclinical model of breast cancer induced bone pain: Walker 256 cancer cell- induced bone pain in rats. The model involves direct localized injection of cancer cells into a single tibia in rats, which avoids widespread metastasis of cancer cells and hence animals maintain good health throughout the experimental period. This model closely mimics the human pathophysiology of breast cancer induced bone pain and has great potential to aid in the process of drug discovery for treating this intractable pain condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyank A Shenoy
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andy Kuo
- Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development, The University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Irina Vetter
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Pharmacy, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Maree T Smith
- Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Pharmacy, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
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