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Yarotskyy V, Nass SR, Hahn YK, Contois L, McQuiston AR, Knapp PE, Hauser KF. Sustained fentanyl exposure inhibits neuronal activity in dissociated striatal neuronal-glial cocultures through actions independent of opioid receptors. J Neurophysiol 2024; 132:1056-1073. [PMID: 39110896 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00444.2023] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Besides having high potency and efficacy at the µ-opioid (MOR) and other opioid receptor types, fentanyl has some affinity for some adrenergic receptor types, which may underlie its unique pathophysiological differences from typical opioids. To better understand the unique actions of fentanyl, we assessed the extent to which fentanyl alters striatal medium spiny neuron (MSN) activity via opioid receptors or α1-adrenoceptors in dopamine type 1 or type 2 receptor (D1 or D2)-expressing MSNs. In neuronal and mixed-glial cocultures from the striatum, acute fentanyl (100 nM) exposure decreased the frequency of spontaneous action potentials. Overnight exposure of cocultures to 100 nM fentanyl severely reduced the proportion of MSNs with spontaneous action potentials, which was unaffected by coexposure to the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (10 µM) but fully negated by coadministering the pan-α1-adrenoceptor inverse agonist prazosin (100 nM) and partially reversed by the selective α1A-adrenoceptor antagonist RS 100329 (300 nM). Acute fentanyl (100 nM) exposure modestly reduced the frequency of action potentials and caused firing rate adaptations in D2, but not D1, MSNs. Prolonged (2-5 h) fentanyl (100 nM) application dramatically attenuated firing rates in both D1 and D2 MSNs. To identify possible cellular sites of α1-adrenoceptor action, α1-adrenoceptors were localized in subpopulations of striatal astroglia and neurons by immunocytochemistry and Adra1a mRNA by in situ hybridization in astrocytes. Thus, sustained fentanyl exposure can inhibit striatal MSN activity via a nonopioid receptor-dependent pathway, which may be modulated via complex actions in α1-adrenoceptor-expressing striatal neurons and/or glia.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Acute fentanyl exposure attenuated the activity of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in vitro and in dopamine D2, but not D1, receptor-expressing MSNs in ex vivo slices. By contrast, sustained fentanyl exposure suppressed the spontaneous activity of MSNs cocultured with glia through a nonopioid receptor-dependent mechanism modulated, in part, by α1-adrenoceptors. Fentanyl exposure can affect striatal function via a nonopioid receptor mechanism of action that appears mediated by α1-adrenoreceptor-expressing striatal neurons and/or astroglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Yarotskyy
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
| | - Sara R Nass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
| | - Yun-Kyung Hahn
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
| | - Liangru Contois
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
| | - A Rory McQuiston
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
| | - Pamela E Knapp
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
- Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
| | - Kurt F Hauser
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
- Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
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Shaykin JD, Denehy ED, Martin JR, Chandler CM, Luo D, Taylor CE, Sunshine MD, Turner JR, Alilain WJ, Prisinzano TE, Bardo MT. Targeting α 1- and α 2-adrenergic receptors as a countermeasure for fentanyl-induced locomotor and ventilatory depression. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 110:104527. [PMID: 39106924 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2024.104527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
This study assessed the ability of α1 and α2-adrenergic drugs to decrease fentanyl-induced locomotor and ventilatory depression. Rats were given saline or fentanyl, followed by: (1) naltrexone, (2) naloxone, (3) nalmefene, (4) α1 agonist phenylephrine, (5) α1 antagonist prazosin, (6) α1D antagonist BMY-7378, (7) α2 agonist clonidine, (8) α2 antagonist yohimbine or (9) vehicle. All µ-opioid antagonists dose-dependently reversed fentanyl-induced locomotor and ventilatory depression. While the α1 drugs did not alter the effects of fentanyl, clonidine dose-dependently decreased locomotion and respiration with and without fentanyl. Conversely, yohimbine given at a low dose (0.3-1 mg/kg) stimulated ventilation when given alone and higher doses (>1 mg/kg) partially reversed (∼50 %) fentanyl-induced ventilatory depression, but not locomotor depression. High doses of yohimbine in combination with a suboptimal dose of naltrexone reversed fentanyl-induced ventilatory depression, suggestive of additivity. Yohimbine may serve as an effective adjunctive countermeasure agent combined with naltrexone to rescue fentanyl-induced ventilatory depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob D Shaykin
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Emily D Denehy
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Jocelyn R Martin
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Cassie M Chandler
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Dan Luo
- College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Chase E Taylor
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC) and Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Michael D Sunshine
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC) and Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Jill R Turner
- College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Warren J Alilain
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC) and Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | - Michael T Bardo
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
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Root-Bernstein R. Biased, Bitopic, Opioid-Adrenergic Tethered Compounds May Improve Specificity, Lower Dosage and Enhance Agonist or Antagonist Function with Reduced Risk of Tolerance and Addiction. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:214. [PMID: 35215326 PMCID: PMC8876737 DOI: 10.3390/ph15020214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper proposes the design of combination opioid-adrenergic tethered compounds to enhance efficacy and specificity, lower dosage, increase duration of activity, decrease side effects, and reduce risk of developing tolerance and/or addiction. Combinations of adrenergic and opioid drugs are sometimes used to improve analgesia, decrease opioid doses required to achieve analgesia, and to prolong the duration of analgesia. Recent mechanistic research suggests that these enhanced functions result from an allosteric adrenergic binding site on opioid receptors and, conversely, an allosteric opioid binding site on adrenergic receptors. Dual occupancy of the receptors maintains the receptors in their high affinity, most active states; drops the concentration of ligand required for full activity; and prevents downregulation and internalization of the receptors, thus inhibiting tolerance to the drugs. Activation of both opioid and adrenergic receptors also enhances heterodimerization of the receptors, additionally improving each drug's efficacy. Tethering adrenergic drugs to opioids could produce new drug candidates with highly desirable features. Constraints-such as the locations of the opioid binding sites on adrenergic receptors and adrenergic binding sites on opioid receptors, length of tethers that must govern the design of such novel compounds, and types of tethers-are described and examples of possible structures provided.
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Wang F, Stefano GB, Kream RM. Epigenetic modification of DRG neuronal gene expression subsequent to nerve injury: etiological contribution to complex regional pain syndromes (Part I). Med Sci Monit 2014; 20:1067-77. [PMID: 24961509 PMCID: PMC4081136 DOI: 10.12659/msm.890702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
DRG is of importance in relaying painful stimulation to the higher pain centers and therefore could be a crucial target for early intervention aimed at suppressing primary afferent stimulation. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a common pain condition with an unknown etiology. Recently added new information enriches our understanding of CRPS pathophysiology. Researches on genetics, biogenic amines, neurotransmitters, and mechanisms of pain modulation, central sensitization, and autonomic functions in CRPS revealed various abnormalities indicating that multiple factors and mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of CRPS. Epigenetics refers to mitotically and meiotically heritable changes in gene expression that do not affect the DNA sequence. As epigenetic modifications potentially play an important role in inflammatory cytokine metabolism, neurotransmitter responsiveness, and analgesic sensitivity, they are likely key factors in the development of chronic pain. In this dyad review series, we systematically examine the nerve injury-related changes in the neurological system and their contribution to CRPS. In this part, we first reviewed and summarized the role of neural sensitization in DRG neurons in performing function in the context of pain processing. Particular emphasis is placed on the cellular and molecular changes after nerve injury as well as different models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. These were considered as the potential molecular bases that underlie nerve injury-associated pathogenesis of CRPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuzhou Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (mainland)
| | - George B Stefano
- Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York at Old Westbury, Old Westbury, USA
| | - Richard M Kream
- Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York at Old Westbury, Old Westbury, USA
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Chavez-Valdez R, Kovell L, Ahlawat R, McLemore GL, Wills-Karp M, Gauda EB. Opioids and clonidine modulate cytokine production and opioid receptor expression in neonatal immune cells. J Perinatol 2013; 33:374-82. [PMID: 23047422 PMCID: PMC3640758 DOI: 10.1038/jp.2012.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Opioids and clonidine, used in for sedation, analgesia and control of opioid withdrawal in neonates, directly or indirectly activate opioid receptors (OPRs) expressed in immune cells. Therefore, our objective is to study how clinically relevant concentrations of different opioids and clonidine change cytokine levels in cultured whole blood from preterm and full-term infants. STUDY DESIGN Using blood from preterm (≤ 30 weeks gestational age (GA), n=7) and full-term ( ≥ 37 weeks GA, n=19) infants, we investigated the changes in cytokine profile (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70 and TNF-α), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and μ-, δ- and κ- opioid receptor (OPR) gene and protein expression, following in-vitro exposure to morphine, methadone, fentanyl or clonidine at increasing concentrations ranging from 0 to 1 mM. RESULT Following lipopolysaccharide activation, IL-10 levels were 146-fold greater in cultured blood from full-term than from preterm infants. Morphine and methadone, but not fentanyl, at >10(-5) M decreased all tested cytokines except IL-8. In contrast, clonidine at <10(-9) M increased IL-6, while at >10(-5) M increased IL-1β and decreased TNF-α levels. All cytokine changes followed the same patterns in preterm and full-term infant cultured blood and matched increases in cAMP levels. All three μ-, δ- and κ-OPR genes were expressed in mononuclear cells (MNC) from preterm and full-term infants. Morphine, methadone and clonidine, but not fentanyl, at >10(-5)M decreased the expression of μ-OPR, but not δ- or κ-OPRs. CONCLUSION Generalized cytokine suppression along with downregulation of μ-OPR expression observed in neonatal MNC exposed to morphine and methadone at clinically relevant concentrations contrast with the modest effects observed with fentanyl and clonidine. Therefore, we speculate that fentanyl and clonidine may be safer therapeutic choices for sedation and control of opioid withdrawal and pain in neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raul Chavez-Valdez
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Johns Hopkins University - School of Medicine. Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology. Texas Tech University – Health Sciences Center. Odessa, Texas 79763, United States
| | - Lara Kovell
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Johns Hopkins University - School of Medicine. Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
| | - Rajni Ahlawat
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Johns Hopkins University - School of Medicine. Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
| | - Gabrielle L. McLemore
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Johns Hopkins University - School of Medicine. Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States, Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland 21251Biology, , United States
| | - Marsha Wills-Karp
- Division of Immunobiology. Children's Hospital of Cincinnati. University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States
| | - Estelle B. Gauda
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Johns Hopkins University - School of Medicine. Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
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Hartrick CT, Rozek RJ. Tapentadol in pain management: a μ-opioid receptor agonist and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor. CNS Drugs 2011; 25:359-70. [PMID: 21476608 DOI: 10.2165/11589080-000000000-00000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Several mechanisms can be proposed to explain an apparent synergistic analgesic action between μ-opioid and α(2)-adrenergic receptor agonists. Combining both effects in a single molecule eliminates the potential for drug-drug interactions inherent in multiple drug therapy. Tapentadol is the first US FDA-approved centrally acting analgesic having both μ-opioid receptor agonist and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) reuptake inhibition activity with minimal serotonin reuptake inhibition. This dual mode of action may make tapentadol particularly useful in the treatment of neuropathic pain. Having limited protein binding, no active metabolites and no significant microsomal enzyme induction or inhibition, tapentadol has a limited potential for drug-drug interactions. Clinical trial evidence in acute and chronic non-cancer pain and neuropathic pain supports an opioid-sparing effect that reduces some of the typical opioid-related adverse effects. Specifically, the reduction in treatment-emergent gastrointestinal adverse effects for tapentadol compared with equianalgesic pure μ-opioid receptor agonists results in improved tolerability and adherence to therapy for both the immediate- and extended-release formulations of tapentadol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig T Hartrick
- Department of Health Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA.
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Tamagaki S, Suzuki T, Hagihira S, Hayashi Y, Mashimo T. Systemic daily morphine enhances the analgesic effect of intrathecal dexmedetomidine via up-regulation of alpha 2 adrenergic receptor subtypes A, B and C in dorsal root ganglion and dorsal horn. J Pharm Pharmacol 2010; 62:1760-7. [PMID: 21054403 DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-7158.2010.01192.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES It has been reported that the effect of intrathecally administered α2 adrenergic receptor (α2 AR) agonists is enhanced in mice that are chronically tolerant to systemic morphine. However, contributory factors have not been identified. Here we examined whether repeated systemic morphine affected the analgesic potency of intrathecal dexmedetomidine and the expression of subtype A, B and C α2 AR (α2A, α2B and α2C AR) in the dorsal root ganglion and dorsal horn in mice. METHODS After subcutaneous injection of morphine or saline for two weeks, dexmedetomidine was administered intrathecally to evaluate its antinociceptive effect. Also, the α2 AR subtypes and µ-opioid receptor mRNA expression in lumbar dorsal root ganglion was quantified using PCR, and α2A and α2C AR in lumbar dorsal root ganglion and dorsal horn were examined by immunohistochemistry. KEY FINDINGS Daily morphine enhanced the antinociceptive effect of intrathecal dexmedetomidine, increased all the α2 AR subtypes but decreased the µ-opioid receptor mRNA expression in dorsal root ganglion and increased immunoreactivity of α2A and α2C AR in dorsal root ganglion and dorsal horn. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that systemic daily morphine enhances the analgesic effect of intrathecal dexmedetomidine via up-regulation of the α2A, α2B and α2C AR in lumbar dorsal root ganglion and dorsal horn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Tamagaki
- Department of Anesthesiology, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan
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