Capsaicin Enhances Glutamatergic Synaptic Transmission to Neonatal Rat Hypoglossal Motor Neurons via a TRPV1-Independent Mechanism

TRPV1: Receptor structure, activation, modulation and role in neuro-immune interactions and pain

In the 1990s, the identification of a non-selective ion channel, especially responsive to capsaicin, revolutionized the studies of somatosensation and pain that were to follow. The TRPV1 channel is expressed mainly in neuronal cells, more specifically, in sensory neurons responsible for the perception of noxious stimuli. However, its presence has also been detected in other non-neuronal cells, such as immune cells, β- pancreatic cells, muscle cells and adipocytes. Activation of the channel occurs in response to a wide range of stimuli, such as noxious heat, low pH, gasses, toxins, endocannabinoids, lipid-derived endovanilloid, and chemical agents, such as capsaicin and resiniferatoxin. This activation results in an influx of cations through the channel pore, especially calcium. Intracellular calcium triggers different responses in sensory neurons. Dephosphorylation of the TRPV1 channel leads to its desensitization, which disrupts its function, while its phosphorylation increases the channel's sensitization and contributes to the channel's rehabilitation after desensitization. Kinases, phosphoinositides, and calmodulin are the main signaling pathways responsible for the channel's regulation. Thus, in this review we provide an overview of TRPV1 discovery, its tissue expression as well as on the mechanisms by which TRPV1 activation (directly or indirectly) induces pain in different disease models.

Inhibitory Synaptic Influences on Developmental Motor Disorders

During development, GABA and glycine play major trophic and synaptic roles in the establishment of the neuromotor system. In this review, we summarise the formation, function and maturation of GABAergic and glycinergic synapses within neuromotor circuits during development. We take special care to discuss the differences in limb and respiratory neuromotor control. We then investigate the influences that GABAergic and glycinergic neurotransmission has on two major developmental neuromotor disorders: Rett syndrome and spastic cerebral palsy. We present these two syndromes in order to contrast the approaches to disease mechanism and therapy. While both conditions have motor dysfunctions at their core, one condition Rett syndrome, despite having myriad symptoms, has scientists focused on the breathing abnormalities and their alleviation-to great clinical advances. By contrast, cerebral palsy remains a scientific quagmire or poor definitions, no widely adopted model and a lack of therapeutic focus. We conclude that the sheer abundance of diversity of inhibitory neurotransmitter targets should provide hope for intractable conditions, particularly those that exhibit broad spectra of dysfunction-such as spastic cerebral palsy and Rett syndrome.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)-independent actions of capsaicin on cellular excitability and ion transport

Capsaicin is a naturally occurring alkaloid derived from chili pepper that is responsible for its hot pungent taste. Capsaicin is known to exert multiple pharmacological actions, including analgesia, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, and antioxidant effects. The transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily member 1 (TRPV1) is the main receptor mediating the majority of the capsaicin effects. However, numerous studies suggest that the TRPV1 receptor is not the only target for capsaicin. An increasing number of studies indicates that capsaicin, at low to mid µM ranges, not only indirectly through TRPV1-mediated Ca²⁺ increases, but also directly modulates the functions of voltage-gated Na⁺ , K⁺ , and Ca²⁺ channels, as well as ligand-gated ion channels and other ion transporters and enzymes involved in cellular excitability. These TRPV1-independent effects are mediated by alterations of the biophysical properties of the lipid membrane and subsequent modulation of the functional properties of ion channels and by direct binding of capsaicin to the channels. The present study, for the first time, systematically categorizes this diverse range of non-TRPV1 targets and discusses cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating TRPV1-independent effects of capsaicin in excitable, as well as nonexcitable cells.

Capsaicin Is a Negative Allosteric Modulator of the 5-HT3 Receptor

In this study, effects of capsaicin, an active ingredient of the capsicum plant, were investigated on human 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT₃) receptors. Capsaicin reversibly inhibited serotonin (5-HT)-induced currents recorded by two-electrode voltage clamp method in Xenopus oocytes. The inhibition was time- and concentration-dependent with an IC₅₀ = 62 μM. The effect of capsaicin was not altered in the presence of capsazepine, and by intracellular BAPTA injections or trans-membrane potential changes. In radio-ligand binding studies, capsaicin did not change the specific binding of the 5-HT₃ antagonist [³H]GR65630, indicating that it is a noncompetitive inhibitor of 5-HT₃ receptor. In HEK-293 cells, capsaicin inhibited 5-HT₃ receptor induced aequorin luminescence with an IC₅₀ of 54 µM and inhibition was not reversed by increasing concentrations of 5-HT. In conclusion, the results indicate that capsaicin acts as a negative allosteric modulator of human 5-HT₃ receptors.

Effects of TRPV1 Activation by Capsaicin and Endogenous N-Arachidonoyl Taurine on Synaptic Transmission in the Prefrontal Cortex

While the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) ion channel, a non-selective calcium-permeable cation channel with high Ca²⁺ permeability, mainly integrates physical and chemical stimuli for nociception, recent studies suggest that it has a role beyond a noxious thermal sensor. In fact, TRPV1 is presently being considered as a target for treating pathophysiological processes including pain, fear, and anxiety disorders. Although this ion channel has many potential roles, its underlying mechanism of action remains elusive. Here we show in mice that activation of TRPV1-, by the exogenous agonist capsaicin-, regulates synaptic activity in both glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission. Moreover, activation by the endogenous activator N-arachidonoyl taurine (NAT), induced similar effects as capsaicin. On the other hand, taurine, the decomposition product of NAT, strongly depressed the evoked glutamatergic synaptic transmission. In addition to these findings, we also show the immunohistochemical distribution of TRPV1 in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of mice, as such studies are currently less frequent in the PFC. Overall, these observations allow for a better understanding of how TRPV1 helps regulate excitatory and inhibitory synaptic activity in the PFC of mice.

Muscarinic Inhibition of Hypoglossal Motoneurons: Possible Implications for Upper Airway Muscle Hypotonia during REM Sleep

Proper function of pharyngeal dilator muscles, including the genioglossus muscle of the tongue, is required to maintain upper airway patency. During sleep, the activity of these muscles is suppressed, and as a result individuals with obstructive sleep apnea experience repeated episodes of upper airway closure when they are asleep, in particular during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Blocking cholinergic transmission in the hypoglossal motor nucleus (MoXII) restores REM sleep genioglossus activity, highlighting the importance of cholinergic transmission in the inhibition of hypoglossal motor neurons (HMNs) during REM sleep. Glutamatergic afferent input from neurons in the parahypoglossal (PH) region to the HMNs is critical for MoXII respiratory motor output. We hypothesized that state-dependent cholinergic regulation may be mediated by this pathway. Here we studied the effects of cholinergic transmission in HMNs in adult male and female mice using patch-clamp recordings in brain slices. Using channelrhodopsin-2-assisted circuit mapping, we first demonstrated that PH glutamatergic neurons directly and robustly activate HMNs (PH^Glut → HMNs). We then show that carbachol consistently depresses this input and that this effect is presynaptic. Additionally, carbachol directly affects HMNs by a variable combination of muscarinic-mediated excitatory and inhibitory responses. Altogether, our results suggest that cholinergic signaling impairs upper airway dilator muscle activity by suppressing glutamatergic input from PH premotoneurons to HMNs and by directly inhibiting HMNs. Our findings highlight the complexity of cholinergic control of HMNs at both the presynaptic and postsynaptic levels and provide a possible mechanism for REM sleep suppression of upper airway muscle activity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Individuals with obstructive sleep apnea can breathe adequately when awake but experience repeated episodes of upper airway closure when asleep, in particular during REM sleep. Similar to skeletal postural muscles, pharyngeal dilator muscles responsible for maintaining an open upper airway become hypotonic during REM sleep. Unlike spinal motoneurons controlling postural muscles that are inhibited by glycinergic transmission during REM sleep, hypoglossal motoneurons that control the upper airway muscles are inhibited in REM sleep by the combination of monoaminergic disfacilitation and cholinergic inhibition. In this study, we demonstrated how cholinergic signaling inhibits hypoglossal motoneurons through presynaptic and postsynaptic muscarinic receptors. Our results provide a potential mechanism for upper airway hypotonia during REM sleep.

Capsaicin causes robust reduction in glycinergic transmission to rat hypoglossal motor neurons via a TRPV1-independent mechanism

The effect of capsaicin on glycinergic synaptic transmission to juvenile rat hypoglossal motor neurons in acute brainstem slices was evaluated in the presence of TTX. Capsaicin caused a robust decrease in miniature IPSC frequency, amplitude, and half-width, showing that this effect is independent of action potential generation. In the presence of capsazepine, a classic TRPV1 antagonist, capsaicin was still able to reduce spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current (IPSC) amplitude and frequency. We further investigated whether the effect of capsaicin on glycinergic transmission to hypoglossal motor neurons is pre- or postsynaptic in nature by recording pairs of evoked IPSCs. Interestingly, capsaicin also reduced evoked IPSC amplitude without affecting paired-pulse ratio, indicating a postsynaptic mechanism of action. Significant reduction was also observed in evoked IPSC half-width, rise time, and decay tau. We also show that capsaicin does not have any effect on either transient (It) or sustained (Is) potassium currents. Finally, we also show that the hyperpolarization-activated cationic current (Ih) also remains unchanged after capsaicin application. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Capsaicin reduces the amplitude of quantal and evoked glycinergic inhibitory neurotransmission to brainstem motor neurons without altering activity-dependent transmitter release. This effect of capsaicin is not due to activation of TRPV1 receptors, as it is not blocked by capsazepine, a TRPV1 receptor antagonist. Capsaicin does not alter voltage-dependent potassium current or the hyperpolarization-activated cationic current in brainstem motor neurons.