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Wang Z, Yao Y, Tao Y, Fan P, Yu Y, Xie K, Wang G. Spinal microRNA-134-5p targets glutamate receptor ionotropic kainate 3 to modulate opioid induced hyperalgesia in mice. Mol Pain 2023; 19:17448069231178271. [PMID: 37247385 DOI: 10.1177/17448069231178271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Fentanyl and its analogs are extensively used for pain relief. However, their paradoxically pronociceptive effects often lead to increased opioids consumption and risk of chronic pain. Compared to other synthetic opioids, remifentanil has been strongly linked to acute opioid hyperalgesia after exposure [remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia (RIH)]. The epigenetic regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) on targeted mRNAs has emerged as an important pathogenesis in pain. The current research aimed at exploring the significance and contributions of miR-134-5p to the development of RIH. Methods: Both the antinociceptive and pronociceptive effects of two commonly used opioids were assessed, and miRNA expression profiles in the spinal dorsal horn (SDH) of mice acutely exposed to remifentanil and remifentanil equianalgesic dose (RED) sufentanil were screened. Next, the candidate miRNA level, cellular distribution, and function were examined by qPCR, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and Argonaute-2 immunoprecipitation. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis, luciferase assays, miRNA overexpression, behavioral tests, golgi staining, electron microscopy, whole-cell patch-clamp recording, and immunoblotting were employed to investigate the potential targets and mechanisms underlying RIH. Results: Remifentanil induced significant pronociceptive effects and a distinct miRNA-profile from sufentanil when compared to saline controls. Among top 30 differentially expressed miRNAs spectrum, spinal miR-134-5p was dramatically downregulated in RIH mice but remained comparative in mice subjected to sufentanil. Moreover, Glutamate Receptor Ionotropic Kainate 3 (Grik3) was a target of miR-134-5p. The overexpression of miR-134-5p attenuated the hyperalgesic phenotype, excessive dendritic spine remodeling, excitatory synaptic structural plasticity, and Kainate receptor-mediated miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in SDH resulting from remifentanil exposure. Besides, intrathecal injection of selective KA-R antagonist was able to reverse the GRIK3 membrane trafficking and relieved RIH. Conclusion: The miR-134-5p contributes to remifentanil-induced pronociceptive features via directly targeting Grik3 to modulate dendritic spine morphology and synaptic plasticity in spinal neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Research Institute of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yao Yao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Research Institute of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuzhu Tao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Peixin Fan
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
- Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing & Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
| | - Yonghao Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Research Institute of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Keliang Xie
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Guolin Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Research Institute of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Willardiine and Its Synthetic Analogues: Biological Aspects and Implications in Peptide Chemistry of This Nucleobase Amino Acid. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15101243. [PMID: 36297355 PMCID: PMC9611319 DOI: 10.3390/ph15101243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Willardiine is a nonprotein amino acid containing uracil, and thus classified as nucleobase amino acid or nucleoamino acid, that together with isowillardiine forms the family of uracilylalanines isolated more than six decades ago in higher plants. Willardiine acts as a partial agonist of ionotropic glutamate receptors and more in particular it agonizes the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) receptors of L-glutamate: ie. the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) and kainate receptors. Several analogues and derivatives of willardiine have been synthesised in the laboratory in the last decades and these compounds show different binding affinities for the non-NMDA receptors. More in detail, the willardiine analogues have been employed not only in the investigation of the structure of AMPA and kainate receptors, but also to evaluate the effects of receptor activation in the various brain regions. Remarkably, there are a number of neurological diseases determined by alterations in glutamate signaling, and thus, ligands for AMPA and kainate receptors deserve attention as potential neurodrugs. In fact, similar to willardiine its analogues often act as agonists of AMPA and kainate receptors. A particular importance should be recognized to willardiine and its thymine-based analogue AlaT also in the peptide chemistry field. In fact, besides the naturally-occurring short nucleopeptides isolated from plant sources, there are different examples in which this class of nucleoamino acids was investigated for nucleopeptide development. The applications are various ranging from the realization of nucleopeptide/DNA chimeras for diagnostic applications, and nucleoamino acid derivatization of proteins for facilitating protein-nucleic acid interaction, to nucleopeptide-nucleopeptide molecular recognition for nanotechnological applications. All the above aspects on both chemistry and biotechnological applications of willardine/willardine-analogues and nucleopeptide will be reviewed in this work.
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Li H, Guo R, Guan Y, Li J, Wang Y. Modulation of Trans-Synaptic Neurexin-Neuroligin Interaction in Pathological Pain. Cells 2022; 11:cells11121940. [PMID: 35741069 PMCID: PMC9222181 DOI: 10.3390/cells11121940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapses serve as the interface for the transmission of information between neurons in the central nervous system. The structural and functional characteristics of synapses are highly dynamic, exhibiting extensive plasticity that is shaped by neural activity and regulated primarily by trans-synaptic cell-adhesion molecules (CAMs). Prototypical trans-synaptic CAMs, such as neurexins (Nrxs) and neuroligins (Nlgs), directly regulate the assembly of presynaptic and postsynaptic molecules, including synaptic vesicles, active zone proteins, and receptors. Therefore, the trans-synaptic adhesion mechanisms mediated by Nrx-Nlg interaction can contribute to a range of synaptopathies in the context of pathological pain and other neurological disorders. The present review provides an overview of the current understanding of the roles of Nrx-Nlg interaction in the regulation of trans-synaptic connections, with a specific focus on Nrx and Nlg structures, the dynamic shaping of synaptic function, and the dysregulation of Nrx-Nlg in pathological pain. Additionally, we discuss a range of proteins capable of modulating Nrx-Nlg interactions at the synaptic cleft, with the objective of providing a foundation to guide the future development of novel therapeutic agents for managing pathological pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huili Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China;
| | - Ruijuan Guo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100030, China;
| | - Yun Guan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Junfa Li
- Department of Neurobiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China;
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-10-85231463
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