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Pearl-Dowler L, Posa L, Lopez-Canul M, Teggin A, Gobbi G. Anti-allodynic and medullary modulatory effects of a single dose of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in neuropathic rats tolerant to morphine. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 127:110805. [PMID: 37257771 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110805] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain (NP) is often treated with opioids, the prolonged use of which causes tolerance to their analgesic effect and can potentially cause death by overdose. The phytocannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may be an effective alternative analgesic to treat NP in morphine-tolerant subjects. Male Wistar rats developed NP after spared nerve injury, and were then treated with increasing doses of THC (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), which reduced mechanical allodynia at the dose of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg. Another group of NP rats were treated with morphine (5 mg/kg, twice daily for 7 days, subcutaneously), until tolerance developed, and on day 8 received a single dose of THC (2.5 mg/kg), which significantly reduced mechanical allodynia. To evaluate the modulation of THC in the descending pain pathway, in vivo electrophysiological recordings of pronociceptive ON cells and antinociceptive OFF cells in the rostroventral medulla (RVM) were recorded after intra-PAG microinjection of THC (10 μg/μl). NP rats with morphine tolerance, compared to the control one, showed a tonic reduction of the spontaneous firing rate of ON cells by 44%, but the THC was able to further decrease it (a hallmark of many analgesic drugs acting at supraspinal level). On the other hand, the firing rate, of the antinociceptive OFF cells was increased after morphine tolerance by 133%, but the THC failed to further activate it. Altogether, these findings indicate that a single dose of THC produces antiallodynic effect in individuals with NP who are tolerant to morphine, acting mostly on the ON cells of the descending pain pathways, but not on OFF cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leora Pearl-Dowler
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Luca Posa
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Martha Lopez-Canul
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alexandra Teggin
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gabriella Gobbi
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Adzic M, Lukic I, Mitic M, Glavonic E, Dragicevic N, Ivkovic S. Contribution of the opioid system to depression and to the therapeutic effects of classical antidepressants and ketamine. Life Sci 2023:121803. [PMID: 37245840 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121803] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) afflicts approximately 5 % of the world population, and about 30-50 % of patients who receive classical antidepressant medications do not achieve complete remission (treatment resistant depressive patients). Emerging evidence suggests that targeting opioid receptors mu (MOP), kappa (KOP), delta (DOP), and the nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor (NOP) may yield effective therapeutics for stress-related psychiatric disorders. As depression and pain exhibit significant overlap in their clinical manifestations and molecular mechanisms involved, it is not a surprise that opioids, historically used to alleviate pain, emerged as promising and effective therapeutic options in the treatment of depression. The opioid signaling is dysregulated in depression and numerous preclinical studies and clinical trials strongly suggest that opioid modulation can serve as either an adjuvant or even an alternative to classical monoaminergic antidepressants. Importantly, some classical antidepressants require the opioid receptor modulation to exert their antidepressant effects. Finally, ketamine, a well-known anesthetic whose extremely efficient antidepressant effects were recently discovered, was shown to mediate its antidepressant effects via the endogenous opioid system. Thus, although opioid system modulation is a promising therapeutical venue in the treatment of depression further research is warranted to fully understand the benefits and weaknesses of such approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav Adzic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Vinca - Institute for Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Iva Lukic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Vinca - Institute for Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milos Mitic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Vinca - Institute for Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Emilija Glavonic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Vinca - Institute for Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nina Dragicevic
- Department of Pharmacy, Singidunum University, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sanja Ivkovic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Vinca - Institute for Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Gamble MC, Williams BR, Singh N, Posa L, Freyberg Z, Logan RW, Puig S. Mu-opioid receptor and receptor tyrosine kinase crosstalk: Implications in mechanisms of opioid tolerance, reduced analgesia to neuropathic pain, dependence, and reward. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:1059089. [PMID: 36532632 PMCID: PMC9751598 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.1059089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the prevalence of opioid misuse, opioids remain the frontline treatment regimen for severe pain. However, opioid safety is hampered by side-effects such as analgesic tolerance, reduced analgesia to neuropathic pain, physical dependence, or reward. These side effects promote development of opioid use disorders and ultimately cause overdose deaths due to opioid-induced respiratory depression. The intertwined nature of signaling via μ-opioid receptors (MOR), the primary target of prescription opioids, with signaling pathways responsible for opioid side-effects presents important challenges. Therefore, a critical objective is to uncouple cellular and molecular mechanisms that selectively modulate analgesia from those that mediate side-effects. One such mechanism could be the transactivation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) via MOR. Notably, MOR-mediated side-effects can be uncoupled from analgesia signaling via targeting RTK family receptors, highlighting physiological relevance of MOR-RTKs crosstalk. This review focuses on the current state of knowledge surrounding the basic pharmacology of RTKs and bidirectional regulation of MOR signaling, as well as how MOR-RTK signaling may modulate undesirable effects of chronic opioid use, including opioid analgesic tolerance, reduced analgesia to neuropathic pain, physical dependence, and reward. Further research is needed to better understand RTK-MOR transactivation signaling pathways, and to determine if RTKs are a plausible therapeutic target for mitigating opioid side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie C. Gamble
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
- Molecular and Translational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Benjamin R. Williams
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Navsharan Singh
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Luca Posa
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Zachary Freyberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Ryan W. Logan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Stephanie Puig
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
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4
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Posa L, De Gregorio D, Lopez-Canul M, He Q, Darcq E, Rullo L, Pearl-Dowler L, Luongo L, Candeletti S, Romualdi P, Kieffer BL, Gobbi G. Supraspinal melatonin MT 2 receptor agonism alleviates pain via a neural circuit that recruits mu opioid receptors. J Pineal Res 2022; 73:e12825. [PMID: 35996205 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12825] [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: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Melatonin, through its G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) (MTNR1B gene) MT2 , is implicated in analgesia, but the relationship between MT2 receptors and the opioid system remains elusive. In a model of rodent neuropathic pain (spared nerve injured [SNI]), the selective melatonin MT2 agonist UCM924 reversed the allodynia (a pain response to a non-noxious stimulus), and this effect was nullified by the pharmacological blockade or genetic inactivation of the mu opioid receptor (MOR), but not the delta opioid receptor (DOR). Indeed, SNI MOR, but not DOR knockout mice, did not respond to the antiallodynic effects of the UCM924. Similarly, the nonselective opioid antagonist naloxone and the selective MOR antagonist D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (CTOP) blocked the effects of UCM924 in SNI rats, but not the DOR antagonist naltrindole (NTI). Electrophysiological recordings in the rostral-ventromedial medulla (RVM) revealed that the typical reduction of the firing activity of pronociceptive ON-cells, and the enhancement of the firing of the antinociceptive OFF-cells, induced by the microinjection of the MT2 agonist UCM924 into the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) were blocked by MOR, but not DOR, antagonism. Immunohistochemistry studies showed that MT2 receptors are expressed in both excitatory (CaMKIIα+ ) and inhibitory (GAD65+ ) neuronal cell bodies in the vlPAG (~2.16% total), but not RVM. Only 0.20% of vlPAG neurons coexpressed MOR and MT2 receptors. Finally, UCM924 treatment induced an increase in the enkephalin precursor gene (PENK) in the PAG of SNI mice. Collectively, the melatonin MT2 receptor agonism requires MORs to exert its antiallodynic effects, mostly through an interneuronal circuit involving MOR and MT2 receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Posa
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Danilo De Gregorio
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Division of Neuroscience, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy, Milano
| | - Martha Lopez-Canul
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Qianzi He
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Darcq
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Douglas Hospital Research Center, McGill University, Quebec, Montreal, Canada
| | - Laura Rullo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Leora Pearl-Dowler
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Livio Luongo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Sanzio Candeletti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Romualdi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Brigitte Lina Kieffer
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Douglas Hospital Research Center, McGill University, Quebec, Montreal, Canada
| | - Gabriella Gobbi
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- McGill University, Health Center (MUHC), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Duarte FCN, Ferraro LHDC, Ferreira A, Sakata RK. A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Analgesic Effect of the Combination of Methadone With Morphine for Cancer Related Pain. Clin J Pain 2021; 37:664-668. [PMID: 34265791 DOI: 10.1097/ajp.0000000000000959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES Although opioids play an indispensable role in the management of cancer-related pain, inadequate pain relief still occurs. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether the combination of a low dose of methadone with morphine promotes a reduction in opioid consumption; the secondary objectives were if the association promotes lower pain intensity, and adverse effects (AEs). MATERIALS AND METHODS A sample if 41 patients with cancer-related pain in palliative setting were included. Patients were starting the third step of the analgesic ladder, and 1 group (n=21) achieve methadone (2.5 mg/12 h) in combination with morphine/methadone, and another group (n=20) received morphine alone. Both groups could use morphine (5 mg) as needed to maintain pain intensity <4, and adjuvant in stable dose. The following outcomes were evaluated: total morphine dose, pain intensity, and AEs. RESULTS There was no difference in the number of adjuvants, and the dose of morphine used. Pain intensity was significantly lower in the morphine/methadone group after 2 weeks, with no statistically significant difference at other timepoints. There was no difference between groups in the AEs. CONCLUSION Low dose of methadone in combination with morphine provided faster pain control as compared with morphine alone, and although this study was not powered to show differences in AEs, we did not notice a difference.
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Antinociceptive synergism upon the joint use of methadone and Phα1β in a model of cancer-related pain in C57BL/6J mice. Life Sci 2021; 278:119582. [PMID: 33961856 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Opioids are the first-line treatment for cancer pain. Incomplete pain relief and the high rate of adverse effects of these compounds bring a need to combine them with other drugs acting on different targets. AIMS We here evaluate the antinociceptive interaction and adverse events of methadone combined with recombinant Phα1β, an analgesic toxin from Phoneutria nigriventer. MAIN METHODS Melanoma was produced by intraplantar inoculation of B16-F10 cells into the right paw. von Frey filaments measured the paw-withdrawal threshold after administration of methadone, Phα1β, and their combination. The degree of interaction was evaluated using isobolographic analysis. Spontaneous performance and forced motor performance were assessed with the open-field and rotarod tests, respectively. Intestinal function was evaluated by the distance traveled by charcoal and opioid tolerance was induced by daily morphine injections. KEY FINDINGS Co-administration of Phα1β with methadone synergistically reverses the melanoma-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. No motor alterations were observed but mild alterations on intestinal function after treatment with the combination that was also capable of restoring morphine analgesia in the tail-flick test after an opioid-induced tolerance. SIGNIFICANCE Combinatorial treatment with Phα1β and methadone produces synergistic analgesic potentiation with potential implications to pain treatment even under opioid tolerance conditions.
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Rusch E, Bovi MF, Martinelli EC, Garcia-Gomes MS, Mori CM, Martins DS, Carregaro AB. Effects of Three Consecutive Days of Morphine or Methadone Administration on Analgesia and Open-Field Activity in Mice with Ehrlich Carcinoma. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021; 60:349-356. [PMID: 33863403 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-20-000053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
This study assessed the exploratory behavioral responses in BALB/c mice inoculated with Ehrlich ascitic carcinoma after 3 consecutive days of treatment with morphine or methadone. Fifty-three female mice, 60 ± 10 d old, were used. Seven days after intraperitoneal tumor inoculation (2 × 106 cells), the animals were randomized into 7 groups: morphine 5 mg/kg (MO5), morphine 7.5 mg/kg (MO7.5), morphine 10 mg/kg (MO10), methadone 2.85 mg/kg (ME2.85), methadone 4.3 mg/kg (ME4.3), methadone 5.7 mg/kg (ME5.7), and 0.9% NaCl (Saline) (n = 7). Drug treatments were administered subcutaneously every 6 h for 3 d. The animals were evaluated for analgesia using the mouse grimace scale (MGS) and for general activity using the open field test. The MGS was performed before tumor inoculation (day 0), on day 7 at 40, 90, 150, 240, and 360 min after drug injection, and on days 8 and 9 at 40, 150, 240, and 360 min after drug injection. The open field test was performed before tumor inoculation (day 0), on day 7 after inoculation at 40, 90, 150, 240, and 360 min after drug injection, and on days 8 and 9 after inoculation at 40, 150, and 360 min after drug injection. MGS results indicated that administration of morphine promoted analgesia for up to 240 min. Conversely, methadone reduced MGS scores only at 40 min. All tested doses promoted a significant dose-dependent increase in the total distance traveled and the average speed, and increase that was markedly pronounced on days 8 and 9 as compared with day 7. The frequencies of rearing and self-grooming decreased significantly after morphine or methadone administration. Despite the difference in analgesia, both drugs increased locomotion and reduced the frequency of rearing and self-grooming as compared with the untreated control animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elidiane Rusch
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Milena F Bovi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Elaine C Martinelli
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Research Center for Veterinary Toxicology (CEPTOX), University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Sa Garcia-Gomes
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Claudia Mc Mori
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniele S Martins
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Adriano B Carregaro
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil;,
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Butler SH. Some controversies related to questionable clinical uses of methadone for chronic non-cancer pain and in palliative care. Scand J Pain 2021; 21:421-425. [PMID: 33725755 DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2020-0178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Allostatic Changes in the cAMP System Drive Opioid-Induced Adaptation in Striatal Dopamine Signaling. Cell Rep 2020; 29:946-960.e2. [PMID: 31644915 PMCID: PMC6871051 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.09.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioids are powerful addictive agents that alter dopaminergic influence
on reward signaling in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the nucleus accumbens.
Repeated opioid exposure triggers adaptive changes, shifting reward valuation to
the allostatic state underlying tolerance. However, the cellular substrates and
molecular logic underlying such allostatic changes are not well understood.
Here, we report that the plasticity of dopamine-induced cyclic AMP (cAMP)
signaling in MSNs serves as a cellular substrate for drug-induced allostatic
adjustments. By recording cAMP responses to optically evoked dopamine in brain
slices from mice subjected to various opioid exposure paradigms, we define
profound neuronal-type-specific adaptations. We find that opioid exposure pivots
the initial hyper-responsiveness of D1-MSNs toward D2-MSN dominance as
dependence escalates. Presynaptic dopamine transporters and postsynaptic
phosphodiesterases critically enable cell-specific adjustments of cAMP that
control the balance between opponent D1-MSN and D2-MSN channels. We propose a
quantitative model of opioid-induced allostatic adjustments in cAMP signal
strength that balances circuit activity. Muntean et al. examine how opioid exposure influences cyclic AMP (cAMP)
responses to dopamine in striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs). They describe
allostatic adaptations in the processing of dopaminergic signals by D1-MSN and
D2-MSN populations as opioid administration progresses from acute exposure to
chronic use, and they define molecular elements contributing to the process.
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Nezamoleslami S, Sheibani M, Mumtaz F, Esmaeili J, Shafaroodi H, Dehpour AR. Lithium reverses the effect of opioids on eNOS/nitric oxide pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:6829-6840. [PMID: 32888132 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05740-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The main challenge of pain management with opioids is development of acute and chronic analgesic tolerance. Several studies on neuronal cells have focused on the molecular mechanisms involved in tolerance such as cyclic AMP (cAMP) activation, and nitric oxide (NO) pathway. However, the effects of opioids on non-neuronal cells and tolerance development have been poorly investigated. Lithium chloride is a glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) inhibitor and exert its effects through modulation of nitric oxide pathway. In this study we examined the effect of lithium on acute/chronic morphine and methadone administration in endothelial cells which express mu opioid receptors. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with different doses of morphine, methadone, and lithium for six and 48 h. Then we evaluated cell viability, nitrite and cyclic AMP levels, as well as the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein using Immunocytochemistry (ICC) assay and phosphorylated GSK-3β enzyme by western blot analysis in cells. Both chronic morphine and methadone treatment increased NO level and eNOS expression in HUVECs. Morphine induced cAMP overproduction after 48 h exposure with cells. Lithium pretreatment (10 mM) in both morphine and methadone received groups significantly reduced nitrite and cAMP levels as well as eNOS expression as compared to the control. The decreased amount of phospho GSK-3β due to the opioid exposure was increased following lithium treatment. Tolerance like pattern may occur in non-neuronal cells with opioid receptors and this study clearly revealed the attenuation of morphine and methadone tolerance like behavior by lithium treatment in HUVECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadaf Nezamoleslami
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Sheibani
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faiza Mumtaz
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jamileh Esmaeili
- Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, P.O. Box 1477893855, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Shafaroodi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ahmad Reza Dehpour
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran.
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran.
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11
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Fjelldal MF, Hadera MG, Kongstorp M, Austdal LPE, Šulović A, Andersen JM, Paulsen RE. Opioid receptor-mediated changes in the NMDA receptor in developing rat and chicken. Int J Dev Neurosci 2019; 78:19-27. [PMID: 31351113 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2019.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of opioids during pregnancy has been associated with neurodevelopmental toxicity in exposed children, leading to cognitive and behavioural deficits later in life. The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunit GluN2B plays critical roles in cerebellar development, and methadone has been shown to possess NMDAR antagonist effect. Consequently, we wanted to explore if prenatal opioid exposure affected GluN2B subunit expression and NMDAR function in rat and chicken cerebellum. Pregnant rats were exposed to methadone (10 mg/kg/day) or buprenorphine (1 mg/kg/day) for the whole period of gestation, using an osmotic minipump. To further examine potential effects of prenatal opioid exposure in a limited time window, chicken embryos were exposed to a 20 mg/kg dose of methadone or morphine on embryonic days 13 and 14. Western blot analysis of cerebella isolated from 14 days old rat pups exposed to buprenorphine showed significantly lower level of the GluN2B subunit, while the opioid exposed chicken embryo cerebellar GluN2B expression remained unaffected at embryonic day 17. However, we observed increased NMDA/glycine-induced calcium influx in cerebellar granule neurone cultures from opioid exposed chicken embryos. We conclude that prenatal opioid exposure leads to opioid receptor-dependent reduction in the postnatal expression of GluN2B in rat cerebella, and increase in NMDA-induced calcium influx in chicken embryo cerebella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marthe Fredheim Fjelldal
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Mussie Ghezu Hadera
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Mette Kongstorp
- Section for Drug Abuse Research, Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | - Lars Peter Engeset Austdal
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Ana Šulović
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Jannike Mørch Andersen
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway.,Section for Drug Abuse Research, Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | - Ragnhild Elisabeth Paulsen
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
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Livingston KE, Mahoney JP, Manglik A, Sunahara RK, Traynor JR. Measuring ligand efficacy at the mu-opioid receptor using a conformational biosensor. eLife 2018; 7:32499. [PMID: 29932421 PMCID: PMC6042960 DOI: 10.7554/elife.32499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The intrinsic efficacy of orthosteric ligands acting at G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) reflects their ability to stabilize active receptor states (R*) and is a major determinant of their physiological effects. Here, we present a direct way to quantify the efficacy of ligands by measuring the binding of a R*-specific biosensor to purified receptor employing interferometry. As an example, we use the mu-opioid receptor (µ-OR), a prototypic class A GPCR, and its active state sensor, nanobody-39 (Nb39). We demonstrate that ligands vary in their ability to recruit Nb39 to µ-OR and describe methadone, loperamide, and PZM21 as ligands that support unique R* conformation(s) of µ-OR. We further show that positive allosteric modulators of µ-OR promote formation of R* in addition to enhancing promotion by orthosteric agonists. Finally, we demonstrate that the technique can be utilized with heterotrimeric G protein. The method is cell-free, signal transduction-independent and is generally applicable to GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Livingston
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States.,Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Jacob P Mahoney
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States.,Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Aashish Manglik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Roger K Sunahara
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, United States
| | - John R Traynor
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States.,Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
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13
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-ninth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2016 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior, and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia, stress and social status, tolerance and dependence, learning and memory, eating and drinking, drug abuse and alcohol, sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology, mental illness and mood, seizures and neurologic disorders, electrical-related activity and neurophysiology, general activity and locomotion, gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions, cardiovascular responses, respiration and thermoregulation, and immunological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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14
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Wu H, Wang D, Ruan X. Comment on: Pharmacokinetics and analgesic effects of methadone in children and adults with sickle cell disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2017; 64. [PMID: 27781384 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.26307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Wu
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.,Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Dian Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Xiulu Ruan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
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15
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Lötsch J, Ultsch A. Process Pharmacology: A Pharmacological Data Science Approach to Drug Development and Therapy. CPT-PHARMACOMETRICS & SYSTEMS PHARMACOLOGY 2016; 5:192-200. [PMID: 27069773 PMCID: PMC4805871 DOI: 10.1002/psp4.12072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A novel functional‐genomics based concept of pharmacology that uses artificial intelligence techniques for mining and knowledge discovery in “big data” providing comprehensive information about the drugs’ targets and their functional genomics is proposed. In “process pharmacology”, drugs are associated with biological processes. This puts the disease, regarded as alterations in the activity in one or several cellular processes, in the focus of drug therapy. In this setting, the molecular drug targets are merely intermediates. The identification of drugs for therapeutic or repurposing is based on similarities in the high‐dimensional space of the biological processes that a drug influences. Applying this principle to data associated with lymphoblastic leukemia identified a short list of candidate drugs, including one that was recently proposed as novel rescue medication for lymphocytic leukemia. The pharmacological data science approach provides successful selections of drug candidates within development and repurposing tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörn Lötsch
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Project Group Translational Medicine and Pharmacology TMP, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Alfred Ultsch
- DataBionics Research Group, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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