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Kader L, Willits A, Meriano S, Christianson JA, La JH, Feng B, Knight B, Kosova G, Deberry J, Coates M, Hyams J, Baumbauer K, Young EE. Identification of arginine-vasopressin receptor 1a (Avpr1a/AVPR1A) as a novel candidate gene for chronic visceral pain sheds light on the potential role of enteric neurons in the development of visceral hypersensitivity. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024:104572. [PMID: 38768798 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Chronic abdominal pain in the absence of ongoing disease is the hallmark of disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While the etiology of DGBIs remains poorly understood, there is evidence that both genetic and environmental factors play a role. In this study, we report the identification and validation of Avpr1a as a novel candidate gene for visceral hypersensitivity (VH), a primary peripheral mechanism underlying abdominal pain in DGBI/IBS. Comparing two C57BL/6 (BL/6) substrains (C57BL/6NTac and C57BL/6J) revealed differential susceptibility to the development of chronic VH following intrarectal zymosan (ZYM) instillation, a validated preclinical model for post-inflammatory IBS. Using whole genome sequencing, we identified a SNP differentiating the two strains in the 5' intergenic region upstream of Avpr1a, encoding the protein arginine-vasopressin receptor 1A (AVPR1A). We used behavioral, histological, and molecular approaches to identify distal colon-specific gene expression and neuronal hyperresponsiveness covarying with Avpr1a genotype and VH susceptibility. While the two BL/6 substrains did not differ across other gastrointestinal (GI) phenotypes (e.g., fecal water retention), VH-susceptible BL/6NTac mice had higher colonic Avpr1a mRNA and protein expression. These results parallel findings that patients' colonic Avpr1a mRNA expression corresponded to higher pain ratings. Moreover, neurons of the enteric nervous system were hyperresponsive to the AVPR1A agonist AVP, suggesting a role for enteric neurons in the pathology underlying VH. Taken together, these findings implicate differential regulation of Avpr1a as a novel mechanism of VH-susceptibility as well as a potential therapeutic target specific to VH. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents evidence of Avpr1a as a novel candidate gene for visceral hypersensitivity in a mouse model of irritable bowel syndrome. Avpr1a genotype and/or tissue-specific expression represents a potential biomarker for chronic abdominal pain susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Kader
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Program, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Adam Willits
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Program, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Sebastian Meriano
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Julie A Christianson
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Jun-Ho La
- Department of Neurobiology, University of University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Bin Feng
- Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
| | - Brittany Knight
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States
| | | | - Jennifer Deberry
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Matthew Coates
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Jeffrey Hyams
- Department of Gastroenterology, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT
| | - Kyle Baumbauer
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Erin E Young
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Program, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States.
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2
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Duffy EP, Ward JO, Hale LH, Brown KT, Kwilasz AJ, Saba LM, Ehringer MA, Bachtell RK. Genetic background and sex influence somatosensory sensitivity and oxycodone analgesia in the Hybrid Rat Diversity Panel. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2024; 23:e12894. [PMID: 38597363 PMCID: PMC11005106 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is an ongoing public health concern in the United States, and relatively little work has addressed how genetic background contributes to OUD. Understanding the genetic contributions to oxycodone-induced analgesia could provide insight into the early stages of OUD development. Here, we present findings from a behavioral phenotyping protocol using several inbred strains from the Hybrid Rat Diversity Panel. Our behavioral protocol included a modified "up-down" von Frey procedure to measure inherent strain differences in the sensitivity to a mechanical stimulus on the hindpaw. We also performed the tail immersion assay, which measures the latency to display tail withdrawal in response to a hot water bath. Initial withdrawal thresholds were taken in drug-naïve animals to record baseline thermal sensitivity across the strains. Oxycodone-induced analgesia was measured after administration of oxycodone over the course of 2 h. Both mechanical and thermal sensitivity are shaped by genetic factors and display moderate heritability (h2 = 0.23-0.40). All strains displayed oxycodone-induced analgesia that peaked at 15-30 min and returned to baseline by 2 h. There were significant differences between the strains in the magnitude and duration of their analgesic response to oxycodone, although the heritability estimates were quite modest (h2 = 0.10-0.15). These data demonstrate that genetic background confers differences in mechanical sensitivity, thermal sensitivity, and oxycodone-induced analgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eamonn P. Duffy
- Department of Integrative PhysiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Institute for Behavioral GeneticsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - J. O. Ward
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - L. H. Hale
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - K. T. Brown
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Andrew J. Kwilasz
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Laura M. Saba
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesSkaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Marissa A. Ehringer
- Department of Integrative PhysiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Institute for Behavioral GeneticsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Ryan K. Bachtell
- Institute for Behavioral GeneticsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
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Xu F, Chen A, Pan S, Wu Y, He H, Han Z, Lu L, Orgil B, Chi X, Yang C, Jia S, Yu C, Mi J. Systems genetics analysis reveals the common genetic basis for pain sensitivity and cognitive function. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14557. [PMID: 38421132 PMCID: PMC10850811 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14557] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing evidence of a strong correlation between pain sensitivity and cognitive function under both physiological and pathological conditions. However, the detailed mechanisms remain largely unknown. In the current study, we sought to explore candidate genes and common molecular mechanisms underlying pain sensitivity and cognitive function with a transcriptome-wide association study using recombinant inbred mice from the BXD family. METHODS The pain sensitivity determined by Hargreaves' paw withdrawal test and cognition-related phenotypes were systematically analyzed in 60 strains of BXD mice and correlated with hippocampus transcriptomes, followed by quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and systems genetics analysis. RESULTS The pain sensitivity showed significant variability across the BXD strains and co-varies with cognitive traits. Pain sensitivity correlated hippocampual genes showed a significant involvement in cognition-related pathways, including glutamatergic synapse, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Moreover, QTL mapping identified a genomic region on chromosome 4, potentially regulating the variation of pain sensitivity. Integrative analysis of expression QTL mapping, correlation analysis, and Bayesian network modeling identified Ring finger protein 20 (Rnf20) as the best candidate. Further pathway analysis indicated that Rnf20 may regulate the expression of pain sensitivity and cognitive function through the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, particularly through interactions with genes Ppp2r2b, Ppp2r5c, Col9a3, Met, Rps6, Tnc, and Kras. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that pain sensitivity is associated with genetic background and Rnf20-mediated PI3K-Akt signaling may involve in the regulation of pain sensitivity and cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuyi Xu
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and TreatmentBinzhou Medical UniversityYantaiChina
| | - Anran Chen
- The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao UniversityYantaiChina
| | - Shuijing Pan
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and TreatmentBinzhou Medical UniversityYantaiChina
| | - Yingying Wu
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and TreatmentBinzhou Medical UniversityYantaiChina
| | - Hongjie He
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and TreatmentBinzhou Medical UniversityYantaiChina
| | - Zhe Han
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and TreatmentBinzhou Medical UniversityYantaiChina
| | - Lu Lu
- University of Tennessee Health Science CenterMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | | | - XiaoDong Chi
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and TreatmentBinzhou Medical UniversityYantaiChina
| | - Cunhua Yang
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and TreatmentBinzhou Medical UniversityYantaiChina
| | - Shushan Jia
- Department of AnesthesiologyYanTai Affiliated Hospital of BinZhou Medical UniversityYantaiChina
| | - Cuicui Yu
- The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao UniversityYantaiChina
| | - Jia Mi
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and TreatmentBinzhou Medical UniversityYantaiChina
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Kader L, Willits A, Meriano S, Christianson JA, La JH, Feng B, Knight B, Kosova G, Deberry J, Coates M, Hyams J, Baumbauer K, Young EE. Identification of arginine-vasopressin receptor 1a (Avpr1a/AVPR1A) as a novel candidate gene for chronic visceral pain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.19.572390. [PMID: 38187732 PMCID: PMC10769202 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.19.572390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Chronic abdominal pain in the absence of ongoing disease is the hallmark of disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While the etiology of DGBIs remains poorly understood, there is evidence that both genetic and environmental factors play a role. In this study, we report the identification and validation of Avpr1a as a novel candidate gene for visceral hypersensitivity (VH), a primary peripheral mechanism underlying abdominal pain in DGBI/IBS. Comparing two C57BL/6 (BL/6) substrains (C57BL/6NTac and C57BL/6J) revealed differential susceptibility to the development of chronic VH following intrarectal zymosan (ZYM) instillation, a validated preclinical model for post-inflammatory IBS. Using whole genome sequencing, we identified a SNP differentiating the two strains in the 5' intergenic region upstream of Avpr1a, encoding the protein arginine-vasopressin receptor 1A (AVPR1A). We used behavioral, histological, and molecular approaches to identify distal colon-specific gene expression differences and neuronal hyperresponsiveness covarying with Avpr1a genotype and VH susceptibility. While the two BL/6 substrains did not differ across other gastrointestinal (GI) phenotypes (e.g., GI motility), VH-susceptible BL/6NTac mice had higher colonic Avpr1a mRNA and protein expression. Moreover, neurons of the enteric nervous system were hyperresponsive to the AVPR1A agonist AVP, suggesting a role for enteric neurons in the pathology underlying VH. These results parallel our findings that patients' colonic Avpr1a mRNA expression was higher in patients with higher pain ratings. Taken together, these findings implicate differential regulation of Avpr1a as a novel mechanism of VH-susceptibility as well as a potential therapeutic target specific to VH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Kader
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Adam Willits
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Sebastian Meriano
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Julie A. Christianson
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Jun-Ho La
- Department of Neurobiology, University of University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Bin Feng
- Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
| | - Brittany Knight
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States
| | | | - Jennifer Deberry
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Matthew Coates
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Jeffrey Hyams
- Department of Gastroenterology, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, CT
| | - Kyle Baumbauer
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Erin E. Young
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
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Su S, Li M, Wu D, Cao J, Ren X, Tao YX, Zang W. Gene Transcript Alterations in the Spinal Cord, Anterior Cingulate Cortex, and Amygdala in Mice Following Peripheral Nerve Injury. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:634810. [PMID: 33898422 PMCID: PMC8059771 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.634810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage is a most common clinical symptom, often accompanied by anxiety- and depression-like symptoms. Current treatments are very limited at least in part due to incompletely understanding mechanisms underlying this disorder. Changes in gene expression in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) have been acknowledged to implicate in neuropathic pain genesis, but how peripheral nerve injury alters the gene expression in other pain-associated regions remains elusive. The present study carried out strand-specific next-generation RNA sequencing with a higher sequencing depth and observed the changes in whole transcriptomes in the spinal cord (SC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and amygdala (AMY) following unilateral fourth lumbar spinal nerve ligation (SNL). In addition to providing novel transcriptome profiles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs, we identified pain- and emotion-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and revealed that numbers of these DEGs displayed a high correlation to neuroinflammation and apoptosis. Consistently, functional analyses showed that the most significant enriched biological processes of the upregulated mRNAs were involved in the immune system process, apoptotic process, defense response, inflammation response, and sensory perception of pain across three regions. Moreover, the comparisons of pain-, anxiety-, and depression-related DEGs among three regions present a particular molecular map among the spinal cord and supraspinal structures and indicate the region-dependent and region-independent alterations of gene expression after nerve injury. Our study provides a resource for gene transcript expression patterns in three distinct pain-related regions after peripheral nerve injury. Our findings suggest that neuroinflammation and apoptosis are important pathogenic mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain and that some DEGs might be promising therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songxue Su
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Neuroscience Research Institute, Zhengzhou University Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mengqi Li
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Zhengzhou University Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jing Cao
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Neuroscience Research Institute, Zhengzhou University Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiuhua Ren
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Neuroscience Research Institute, Zhengzhou University Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuan-Xiang Tao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Weidong Zang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Neuroscience Research Institute, Zhengzhou University Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
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Cabral FV, Sabino CP, Dimmer JA, Sauter IP, Cortez MJ, Ribeiro MS. Preclinical Investigation of Methylene Blue‐mediated Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy on
Leishmania
Parasites Using Real‐Time Bioluminescence. Photochem Photobiol 2019; 96:604-610. [DOI: 10.1111/php.13188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda V. Cabral
- Center for Lasers and Applications, Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN‐CNEN/SP) São Paulo SP Brazil
| | - Caetano P. Sabino
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of São Paulo São Paulo SP Brazil
- Biolambda, Translational Biophotonics LTD São Paulo SP Brazil
| | - Jesica A. Dimmer
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department School of Chemical Sciences National University of Córdoba Córdoba Argentina
- Multidisciplinary Institute of Plant Biology (IMBIV) CONICET Córdoba Argentina
| | - Ismael P. Sauter
- Center for Lasers and Applications, Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN‐CNEN/SP) São Paulo SP Brazil
| | - Mauro J. Cortez
- Institute of Biosciences University of São Paulo (ICB/USP) São Paulo SP Brazil
| | - Martha S. Ribeiro
- Center for Lasers and Applications, Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN‐CNEN/SP) São Paulo SP Brazil
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7
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Learoyd AE, Sen D, Fitzgerald M. The pain trajectory of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA): translating from adolescent patient report to behavioural sensitivity in a juvenile animal model. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2019; 17:60. [PMID: 31455369 PMCID: PMC6712651 DOI: 10.1186/s12969-019-0360-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While pain is a common symptom in JIA patients, it remains unclear why some JIA patients develop ongoing or persistent pain. Complex clinical and social settings confound analysis of individual factors that may contribute to this pain. To address this, we first undertook a retrospective analysis of pain reports in a JIA patient cohort with the aim of identifying potential factors contributing to persistent pain. We then carried out an experimental laboratory study, using joint inflammatory pain behaviour in rodents, to validate the role of these factors in the onset of persistent pain under controlled conditions. METHODS Patients: Retrospective analysis of anonymised pain visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and accompanying clinical scores from 97 JIA patients aged 13-19 (mean: 16.40 ± 1.21) collected over 50 weeks. Rats: Experimental study of pain behaviour following intra-articular microinjection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in adolescents (n = 25) and young adults (n = 43). Some animals (n = 21) had been previously exposed to joint inflammation in infancy or adolescence. RESULTS Patients: Cluster analysis of patient pain VAS scores revealed three trajectories over 50 weeks: consistently low pain (n = 45), variable pain (n = 30) and persistently high pain (n = 22). Number of actively inflamed joints did not differ in the three groups. High pain at a single visit correlated with greater physician global assessment of disease activity, while a high pain trajectory over 50 weeks was associated with more limited joints but fewer actively inflamed joints. Rats: Rodents administered ankle joint CFA also exhibit low, medium and high joint pain sensitivities, independent of joint inflammation. Prolonged inflammatory pain behaviour was associated with high background pain sensitivity, following joint inflammation at an earlier stage in life. CONCLUSIONS Both JIA patients and rodents differ in their individual pain sensitivity independent of the concurrent joint inflammation. Using experimental animal models allows us to isolate physiological factors underlying these differences, independently of social or clinical factors. The results suggest that a history of prior arthritic activity/joint inflammation may contribute to high pain sensitivity in adolescents with JIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annastazia E. Learoyd
- 0000000121901201grid.83440.3bDepartment of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Debajit Sen
- 0000000121901201grid.83440.3bArthritis Research UK Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Fitzgerald
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK.
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9
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Walcott AT, Smith ML, Loftis JM, Ryabinin AE. Social transfer of alcohol withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia in female prairie voles. Soc Neurosci 2018; 13:710-717. [PMID: 29564972 PMCID: PMC6298945 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2018.1456957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The expression of pain serves as a way for animals to communicate potential dangers to nearby conspecifics. Recent research demonstrated that mice undergoing alcohol or morphine withdrawal, or inflammation, could socially communicate their hyperalgesia to nearby mice. However, it is unknown whether such social transfer of hyperalgesia can be observed in other species of rodents. Therefore, the present study investigated if the social transfer of hyperalgesia occurs in the highly social prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). We observe that adult female prairie voles undergoing withdrawal from voluntary two-bottle choice alcohol drinking display an increase in nociception. This alcohol withdrawal-induced hypersensitiity is socially transferred to female siblings within the same cage and female strangers housed in separate cages within the same room. These experiments reveal that the social transfer of pain phenomenon is not specific to inbred mouse strains and that prairie voles display alcohol withdrawal and social transfer-induced hyperalgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre T. Walcott
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Monique L. Smith
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Jennifer M. Loftis
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Research & Development Service, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Andrey E. Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
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10
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Abstract
Identifying genes and pathways that contribute to differences in neurobehavioural traits is a key goal in psychiatric research. Despite considerable success in identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with behaviour in laboratory rodents, pinpointing the causal variants and genes is more challenging. For a long time, the main obstacle was the size of QTLs, which could encompass tens if not hundreds of genes. However, recent studies have exploited mouse and rat resources that allow mapping of phenotypes to narrow intervals, encompassing only a few genes. Here, we review these studies, showcase the rodent resources they have used and highlight the insights into neurobehavioural traits provided to date. We discuss what we see as the biggest challenge in the field - translating QTLs into biological knowledge by experimentally validating and functionally characterizing candidate genes - and propose that the CRISPR/Cas genome-editing system holds the key to overcoming this obstacle. Finally, we challenge traditional views on inbred versus outbred resources in the light of recent resource and technology developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie Baud
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Jonathan Flint
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761, USA
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