Activation of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 by quercetin and its analogs

The agonistic activity of quercetin and its analogs towards the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) has been experimentally investigated. The human TRPA1 was expressed in HEK293T cells using a tetracycline-inducible system. The activation of TRPA1 was evaluated by a fluo-4 fluorescence assay based on calcium sensing. The results of a structure–activity relationship study led to the selection of six flavonoids, all of which activated the TRPA1 channel in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, the activation of TRPA1 by these flavonoid aglycones was completely inhibited by the co-treatment of the HEK293T cells with the TRPA1-specific antagonist, HC-030031. Several flavonoid glycosides and metabolites were also evaluated, but did not activate the TRPA1 except for methylated quercetin. On the other hand, TRPV1 (vanilloid receptor) did not respond to any of the flavonoids evaluated in this study. Therefore, these data suggest that the flavonoids would be promising ligands for the TRPA1.     

Activation of capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory neurones induces anandamide production and release

The inhibitory cannabinoid 1 receptor and the excitatory vanilloid receptor 1, both of which are responsive to the endogenous ligand anandamide, are co-expressed on a subpopulation of primary sensory neurones. We report that activation of the cannabinoid 1 receptor/vanilloid receptor 1-co-expressing primary sensory neurones induces the production and release of anandamide. Application of capsaicin (3 nm-1 micro m) to cultured primary sensory neurones evoked calcitonin gene-related peptide release, which was significantly increased by the selective cannabinoid 1 receptor antagonist, SR141716A (200 nm). Mass spectrometric analyses of the extracellular solution revealed that exposure to capsaicin (10 nm or 100 nm) enhanced the anandamide concentration of the medium from less then 0.05 pmol/ micro L to more then 2 pmol/ micro L. Depolarization of the neurones with 50 mm KCl also enhanced the anandamide content of the buffer. Both the capsaicin- and KCl-induced anandamide release depended on extracellular Ca2+. Prolonged treatment of the cultures with capsaicin (10 micro m) reduced both the capsaicin- and KCl-induced anandamide release. These findings indicate that activation of capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory neurones evokes anandamide production and release, and that anandamide might be a key endogenous regulator of the excitability of these neurones.     

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 5 in primary afferent neurons contributes to heat and cold hyperalgesia after inflammation

Heat and cold hyperalgesia is a common feature of inflammatory pain. To investigate whether activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5), also known as big mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, in primary sensory neurons participates in inflammatory pain, we examined the phosphorylation of ERK5 in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) after peripheral inflammation. Inflammation induced by complete Freund's adjuvant produced heat and cold hyperalgesia on the ipsilateral hind paw and induced an increase in the phosphorylation of ERK5, mainly in tyrosine kinase A-expressing small- and medium-size neurons. In contrast, there was no change in ERK5 phosphorylation in the spinal dorsal horn. ERK5 antisense, but not mismatch, oligodeoxynucleotide decreased the activation of ERK5 and suppressed inflammation-induced heat and cold hyperalgesia. Furthermore, the inhibition of ERK5 blocked the induction of transient receptor potential channel TRPV1 and TRPA1 expression in DRG neurons after peripheral inflammation. Our results show that ERK5 activated in DRG neurons contribute to the development of inflammatory pain. Thus, blocking ERK5 signaling in sensory neurons that has the potential for preventing pain after inflammation.     

Interleukin-1beta-induced substance P release from rat cultured primary afferent neurons driven by two phospholipase A2 enzymes: secretory type IIA and cytosolic type IV

We previously described that recombinant interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) induced the significant release of substance P (SP) via a cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway in primary cultured rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. In the present study, we examined the involvement of two types of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes, which lie upstream of COX in the prostanoid-generating pathway, in the IL-1beta-induced release of SP from DRG cells. The expression of type IIA secretory PLA2 (sPLA2 -IIA) mRNA was undetectable by ribonuclease protection assay in non-treated DRG cells, while in DRG cells incubated with 1 ng/mL of IL-1beta, the expression was induced in a time-dependent manner. On the other hand, type IV cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2 ) mRNA was constitutively expressed in the non-treated DRG cells, and treatment with 1 ng/mL of IL-1beta for 3 h significantly increased the levels of cPLA2 mRNA. The IL-1beta-induced SP release was significantly inhibited by the sPLA2 inhibitor, thioetheramide phosphorylcholine (TEA-PC), and the cPLA2 inhibitor, arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF3 ). Furthermore AACOCF3 suppressed the induction of sPLA2 -IIA mRNA expression induced by IL-1beta. These observations suggested that two types of PLA2, sPLA2 -IIA and cPLA2, were involved in the IL-1beta-induced release of SP from DRG cells, and that the functional cross-talk between the two enzymes might help to control their activity in the prostanoid-generating system in DRG cells. These events might be key steps in the inflammation-induced hyperactivity in primary afferent neurons of spinal cord.     

Substance P release evoked by capsaicin or potassium from rat cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons is conversely modulated with bradykinin

To clarify the molecular mechanism of substance P (SP) release from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, we investigated the involvement of several intracellular effectors in the regulation of SP release evoked by capsaicin, potassium or/and bradykinin. Bradykinin-evoked SP release from cultured adult rat DRG neurons was attenuated by either the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor (U0126) or cycloheximide. As the long-term exposure of DRG neurons to bradykinin (3 h) resulted in extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation at an early stage and thereafter induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression, which both contribute to the SP release triggered by bradykinin B2 receptor. The long-term exposure of DRG neurons to bradykinin enhanced the SP release by capsaicin, but attenuated that by potassium. Interestingly, the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3)-induced calcium release blocker [2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate (2-APB)] not only inhibited the potassium-evoked SP release, but also completely abolished the enhancement of capsaicin-induced SP release by bradykinin from cultured DRG neurons. Together, these findings suggest that the molecular mechanisms of SP release by bradykinin involve the activation of MEK, and also require the de novo protein synthesis of COX-2 in DRG neurons. The IP3-dependent calcium release could be involved in the processes of the regulation by bradykinin of capsaicin-triggered SP release.     

Nuclear Localization of SP, CGRP, and NK 1 R in a Subpopulation of Dorsal Root Ganglia Subpopulation Cells in Rats

Signals generated by renal pelvic afferent nerves in response to stimulation are transmitted from peripheral processes of dorsal root ganglia neurons to their central terminals in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord to cause the release of neuropeptides, including SP and CGRP. All of the cellular activities of SP are considered to be mediated through interaction with NK₁R located on the cell surface. We have investigated the colocalization and subcellular distribution of NK₁R, SP, and CGRP in different subpopulations of neurons that innervate renal tissue. Our findings therefore provide the first evidence for the presence of NK₁R, SP, and CGRP in the nuclei of DGR neural cells. The physiological significance of this localization remains unknown. One possibility is that pelvic sensory neurons may regulate their responses to different stimuli by modulating the ratio of CGRP and SP release and/or nuclear NK₁R expression.     

Modulation of action potential and calcium signaling by levetiracetam in rat sensory neurons

Levetiracetam (LEV), a new anticonvulsant agent primarily used to treat epilepsy, has been used in pain treatment but the cellular mechanism of this action remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate effects of LEV on the excitability and membrane depolarization-induced calcium signaling in isolated rat sensory neurons using the whole-cell patch clamp and fura 2–based ratiometric Ca²⁺-imaging techniques. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were excised from neonatal rats, and cultured following enzymatic and mechanical dissociation. Under current clamp conditions, acute application of LEV (30 µM, 100 µM and 300 µM) significantly increased input resistance and caused the membrane to hyperpolarize from resting membrane potential in a dose-dependent manner. Reversal potentials of action potential (AP) after hyperpolarising amplitudes were shifted to more negative, toward to potassium equilibrium potentials, after application of LEV. It also caused a decrease in number of APs in neurons fired multiple APs in response to prolonged depolarization. Fura-2 fluorescence Ca²⁺ imaging protocols revealed that HiK⁺ (30 mM)-induced intracellular free Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) was inhibited to 97.8 ± 4.6% (n = 17), 92.6 ± 4.8% (n = 17, p < 0.01) and 89.1 ± 5.1% (n = 18, p < 0.01) after application of 30 µM, 100 µM and 300 µM LEV (respectively), without any significant effect on basal levels of [Ca²⁺]_i. This is the first evidence for the effect of LEV on the excitability of rat sensory neurons through an effect which might involve activation of potassium channels and inhibition of entry of Ca²⁺, providing new insights for cellular mechanism(s) of LEV in pain treatment modalities.     

P物质对大鼠骶髓后连合核神经元甘氨酸激活的氯电流的调控

采用制霉菌素穿孔膜片箍技术,研究了Ｐ物质对急性分离的大鼠骶髓后的核神经元士的宁敏感性甘氨酸反应的调控作用。在箍制电压为－４０ｍＶ时,ＳＰ时１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ－１μｍｏｌ／Ｌ之间呈浓度依赖性地增强３０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ甘氨酸激活的氯电流。ＳＰ既不改变ＩＧｌｙ的翻转电位,也不是影响Ｇｌｙ与其受体的亲和力。Ｓｐａｎｔｉｄｅ和选择性Ｎ中受体拮抗剂,Ｌ－６６８,１６９,可阻断ＳＰ的增强作用,而选择性ＮＫ２受体拮抗剂,     

The TRPV1 receptor is associated with preferential stress in large dorsal root ganglion neurons in early diabetic sensory neuropathy

Chronic diabetic neuropathy is associated with peripheral demyelination and degeneration of nerve fibers. The mechanism(s) underlying neuronal injury in diabetic sensory neuropathy remain poorly understood. Recently, we reported increased expression and function of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in large dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in diabetic sensory neuropathy. In this study, we examined the effects of TRPV1 activation on cell injury pathways in this subpopulation of neurons in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Large DRG neurons from diabetic (6–8 weeks) rats displayed increased oxidative stress and activation of cell injury markers compared with healthy controls. Capsaicin (CAP) treatment induced decreased labeling of MitoTracker Red and increased cytosolic cytochrome c and activation of caspase 3 in large neurons isolated from diabetic rats. CAP treatment also induced oxidative stress in large diabetic DRG neurons, which was blocked by pre-treatment with caspase or calpain inhibitor. In addition, both μ-calpain expression and calpain activity were significantly increased in DRG neurons from diabetic rats after CAP treatment. Treatment with capsazepine, a competitive TRPV1 antagonist, markedly reduced these abnormalities in vitro and prevented activation of cell injury in large DRG neurons in diabetic rats in vivo . These results suggest that activation of the TRPV1 receptor activates pathways associated with caspase-dependent and calpain-dependent stress in large DRG neurons in STZ-diabetic rats. Activation of the TRPV1 receptor may contribute to preferential neuronal stress in large DRG neurons relatively early in diabetic sensory neuropathy.     

P物质对大鼠三叉神经节神经元GABA-和5-HT-激活电流的反向调制作用

实验采用全细胞膜片钳技术观察P 物质(SP)对大鼠同一三叉神经节(TG)神经元γ-氨基丁酸激活电流(IGABA)和5-羟色胺激活电流(I5-HT)的调制作用。在受检的47 个 TG 细胞中,多数情况下可在同一细胞记录到IGABA 和 I5-HT 两种电流(63.8%,30/47)。在 30 个同时对 GABA 和 5-HT 敏感的细胞,其中 22 个细胞预加 SP(0.01 μmol/L)后,IGABA 减小(35.7 ± 6.1)%,而I5-HT 增加(65.2 ±8.7)%。此种调制作用可被SP 受体拮抗剂GR82334 及胞内透析GDP-β -S 或GF109203X 所阻断。以上结果表明:SP 受体激活后经G 蛋白耦联,通过相同的PLC-DAG-PKC 转导途径对同一感觉神经元共存的GABAA 受体和5-HT3 受体产生相反的调制效应。     

Bradykinin-responsive cells of dorsal root ganglia in culture: Cell size,firing, cytosolic calcium,and substance P

Summary 1. We analyze bradykinin-sensitive cells of the mouse dorsal root ganglion in culture from the viewpoints of cell size, electrical responses, and Ca²⁺ concentration change due to bradykinin and immunocytochemistry of substance P.2. Sixteen percent of cells in the cell group 26–30 µm in diameter fired in response to 10 µM bradykinin. None of other cell groups showed a firing response to bradykinin.3. We measured a cytosolic Ca²⁺ change due to bradykinin using a Ca²⁺-sensitive fluorescent dye, Fura 2. The rapid rise (peak time, 20 sec) in the Ca²⁺ concentration was ascribed to Ca²⁺ release from intracellular Ca²⁺ stores. The profound change in the Ca²⁺ concentration was observed again in the cell group 26–30 µm in diameter. Seventeen percent of cells in this group increased the Ca²⁺ concentration by approximately seven times that at resting level.4. Among cells which increase Ca²⁺ concentration responding to bradykinin, 83% of them contain substance P (an immunocytochemical study).5. We conclude that 16–17% of the cell group 26–30 µm in diameter of the dorsal root ganglia in culture are polymodal nociceptors and respond to bradykinin.     

Roles of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 5 in spinal microglia and primary sensory neurons for neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain that occurs after peripheral nerve injury is poorly controlled by current therapies. Increasing evidence shows that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) play an important role in the induction and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Here we show that activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 5 (ERK5), also known as big MAPK1, participates in pain hypersensitivity caused by nerve injury. Nerve injury increased ERK5 phosphorylation in spinal microglia and in both damaged and undamaged dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Antisense knockdown of ERK5 suppressed nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain and decreased microglial activation. Furthermore, inhibition of ERK5 blocked the induction of transient receptor potential channels and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in DRG neurons. Our results show that ERK5 activated in spinal microglia and DRG neurons contributes to the development of neuropathic pain. Thus, blocking ERK5 signaling in the spinal cord and primary afferents has potential for preventing pain after nerve damage.     

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 functions as a neuromodulator in dorsal root ganglia neurons

It has previously been observed that expression of chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2)) and its receptor CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) is up-regulated by dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in association with rodent models of neuropathic pain. MCP-1 increases the excitability of nociceptive neurons after a peripheral nerve injury, while disruption of MCP-1/CCR2 signaling blocks the development of neuropathic pain, suggesting MCP-1 signaling is responsible for heightened pain sensitivity. To define the mechanisms of MCP-1 signaling in DRG, we studied intracellular processing, release, and receptor-mediated signaling of MCP-1 in DRG neurons. We found that in a focal demyelination model of neuropathic pain both MCP-1 and CCR2 were up-regulated by the same neurons including transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor subtype 1 (TRPV1) expressing nociceptors. MCP-1 expressed by DRG neurons was packaged into large dense-core vesicles whose release could be induced from the soma by depolarization in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner. Activation of CCR2 by MCP-1 could sensitize nociceptors via transactivation of transient receptor potential channels. Our results suggest that MCP-1 and CCR2, up-regulated by sensory neurons following peripheral nerve injury, might participate in neural signal processing which contributes to sustained excitability of primary afferent neurons.     

实验性结肠炎对脊髓传入神经元中降钙素基因相关肽和香草酸受体1表达的调节

本文旨在探讨肠道局部炎症对脊髓肠道感觉传入神经通路的近期及远期效应,应用三硝基苯磺酸(trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid,TNBS)建立大鼠结肠炎动物模型,用DiI(3)逆行神经标记法识别支配肠道炎症部位的脊髓背根神经节(dorsalrootganglia,DRG)神经元,通过肉眼观察、平均组织损伤评分及髓过氧化物酶活性测定等方法评价肠道组织的炎症反应状态,用免疫组织化学法测定香草酸受体l(vanilloid receptor 1,VRl)和降钙素基因相关肽(calcitonin gene-related peptide,CGRP)在支配结肠炎症部位的DRG神经元中的表达,比较炎症不同阶段(给予TNBS后7、21、42 d)CGRP和VRI阳性神经元的数目.结果显示,炎症急性期(即给予TNBS后7 d)结肠黏膜肉眼可见明显损伤,同时相应DRG中表达CGRP及VRl的神经元增加近2倍[(95.38±9.45)%VS(42.86±5.02)%,(89.23±8.21)%VS(32.54±4.58)%].给予TNBS后21、42 d,肠道炎症反应已完全消退,但表达CGRP及VRl的DRG神经元数目仍明显高于对照组[(86.25±8.21)%,(68.28±7.12)%VS(42.86±5.02)%;(67.22±6.52)%,(56.25±4.86)%VS(32.54±4.58)%].结果提示,肠道局部炎症可以上调支配肠道的脊髓传入神经元中CGRP和VRl的表达,这种异常表达可以持续至肠道炎症反应消退后的一定时间.     

Enhancement of acid-sensing ion channel activity by metabotropic P2Y UTP receptors in primary sensory neurons

Peripheral purinergic signaling plays an important role in nociception. Increasing evidence suggests that metabotropic P2Y receptors are also involved, but little is known about the underlying mechanism. Herein, we report that selective P2Y receptor agonist uridine 5′-triphosphate (UTP) can exert an enhancing effect on the functional activity of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), key sensors for extracellular protons, in rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. First, UTP dose-dependently increased the amplitude of ASIC currents. UTP also shifted the concentration–response curve for proton upwards, with a 56.6?±?6.4 % increase of the maximal current response to proton. Second, UTP potentiation of proton-gated currents can be mimicked by adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP), but not by P2Y1 receptor agonist ADP. Potentiation of UTP was blocked by P2Y receptor antagonist suramin and by inhibition of intracellular G protein, phospholipase C (PLC), protein kinase C (PKC), or protein interacting with C-kinase 1 (PICK1) signaling. Third, UTP altered acidosis-evoked membrane excitability of DRG neurons and caused a significant increase in the amplitude of the depolarization and the number of spikes induced by acid stimuli. Finally, UTP dose-dependently exacerbated nociceptive responses to injection of acetic acid in rats. These results suggest that UTP enhanced ASIC-mediated currents and nociceptive responses, which reveal a novel peripheral mechanism underlying UTP-sensitive P2Y₂ receptor involvement in hyperalgesia by sensitizing ASICs in primary sensory neurons.     

Sustained pharmacological blockade of NK1 substance P receptors causes functional desensitization of dorsal raphe 5-HT 1A autoreceptors in mice

Antagonists at NK1 substance P receptors have demonstrated similar antidepressant properties in both animal paradigms and in human as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that induce desensitization of 5-HT 1A autoreceptors within the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). We investigated whether this receptor adaptation also occurs upon NK1 receptor blockade. C57B/L6J mice were treated for 21 days with the selective NK1 receptor antagonist GR 205171 (10 mg/kg daily) through subcutaneously implanted osmotic mini pumps, and DRN 5-HT 1A autoreceptor functioning was assessed using various approaches. Recording of DRN serotonergic neurons in brainstem slices showed that GR 205171 treatment reduced (by approximately 1.5 fold) the potency of the 5-HT 1A receptor agonist, ipsapirone, to inhibit cell firing. In parallel, the 5-HT 1A autoreceptor-mediated [35S]GTP-gamma-S binding induced by 5-carboxamidotryptamine onto the DRN in brainstem sections was significantly decreased in GR 205171-treated mice. In vivo microdialysis showed that the cortical 5-HT overflow caused by acute injection of the SSRI paroxetine (1 mg/kg) was twice as high in GR 205171-treated as in vehicle-treated controls. In the DRN, basal 5-HT outflow was significantly enhanced by GR 205171 treatment. These data supported the hypothesis that chronic NK1 receptor blockade induces a functional desensitization of 5-HT 1A autoreceptors similar to that observed with SSRIs.