Modulation of P2X receptors in dorsal root ganglion neurons of streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy.

Painful diabetic neuropathy causes hyperalgesia and does not respond to commonly used analgesics such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or opioids at doses below those producing disruptive side effects. In the present study, we examined the effect of P2X receptor antagonists, which are known to modulate the pain pathway, on mechanical hyperalgesia in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The paw withdrawal frequency measured by von Frey filaments, began to significantly increase 5 days after STZ injection and was maintained for more than 14 days. Intrathecal administration of P2X receptor antagonists (PPADS and TNP-ATP) inhibited the mechanical allodynia in diabetic mice. The levels of P2X(2) and P2X(3) receptors mRNA were significantly increased in diabetic mice at 14 days after the intravenous injection of STZ. These results suggest that the upregulation of P2X(2), P2X(3) and/or P2X(2/3) receptor in DRG neurons is associated with mechanical allodynia in STZ-induced diabetic mice.

Intracellular alkalization causes pain sensation through activation of TRPA1 in mice.

Vertebrate cells require a very narrow pH range for survival. Cells accordingly possess sensory and defense mechanisms for situations where the pH deviates from the viable range. Although the monitoring of acidic pH by sensory neurons has been attributed to several ion channels, including transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 channel (TRPV1) and acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), the mechanisms by which these cells detect alkaline pH are not well understood. Here, using Ca2+ imaging and patch-clamp recording, we showed that alkaline pH activated transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1 (TRPA1) and that activation of this ion channel was involved in nociception. In addition, intracellular alkalization activated TRPA1 at the whole-cell level, and single-channel openings were observed in the inside-out configuration, indicating that alkaline pH activated TRPA1 from the inside. Analyses of mutants suggested that the two N-terminal cysteine residues in TRPA1 were involved in activation by intracellular alkalization. Furthermore, intraplantar injection of ammonium chloride into the mouse hind paw caused pain-related behaviors that were not observed in TRPA1-deficient mice. These results suggest that alkaline pH causes pain sensation through activation of TRPA1 and may provide a molecular explanation for some of the human alkaline pH-related sensory disorders whose mechanisms are largely unknown.

Effects of intraplantar injections of nociceptin and its N-terminal fragments on nociceptive and desensitized responses induced by capsaicin in mice.

Injection of capsaicin into the hindpaw has been employed as a model of chemogenic nociception in mice. Intraplantar injection of nociceptin (30-240 pmol) produced a significant and dose-dependent antinociceptive activity in the capsaicin test. The nociceptin N-terminal fragments, (1-11) and (1-13), were also active with a potency higher than nociceptin and comparable to nociceptin, respectively. Intraplantar injection of the nociceptin (1-7) fragment had no effect on capsaicin-induced nociception. Antinociception induced by nociceptin or nociceptin (1-13) was reversed significantly by intraplantar co-injection of [Nphe1]nociceptin (1-13)NH2, an orphan opioid receptor-like 1 (ORL1) receptor antagonist, whereas local injection of the antagonist did not interfere with the action of nociceptin (1-11). Nociceptin (1-11) was approximately 2.0-fold more potent than naturally occurring peptide nociceptin, and 10-fold more active than intraplantar morphine. Nociceptive licking/biting response to intraplantar injection of capsaicin was desensitized by repeated injections of capsaicin at the interval of 15 min. Desensitization induced by capsaicin was attenuated significantly by co-injection of nociceptin at much lower doses than antinociceptive ED50 for nociceptin. Capsaicin desensitization was also decreased by co-injection of nociceptin (1-11) and (1-13) to a similar extent. The present results indicate that not only nociceptin but also the N-terminal fragment (1-13) possesses a local peripheral antinociceptive action, which may be mediated by peripheral ORL1 receptors. In addition, the difference of the effective doses suggests that the antinociceptive action and inhibition of capsaicin-induced desenitization by nociceptin, nociceptin (1-11) and (1-13), may involve distinct mechanisms at the level of the peripheral nerve terminal.

Sensitization of TRPV1 by EP1 and IP reveals peripheral nociceptive mechanism of prostaglandins.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) are major inflammatory mediators that play important roles in pain sensation and hyperalgesia. The role of their receptors (EP and IP, respectively) in inflammation has been well documented, although the EP receptor subtypes involved in this process and the underlying cellular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The capsaicin receptor TRPV1 is a nonselective cation channel expressed in sensory neurons and activated by various noxious stimuli. TRPV1 has been reported to be critical for inflammatory pain mediated through PKA- and PKC-dependent pathways. PGE2 or PGI2increased or sensitized TRPV1 responses through EP1 or IP receptors, respectively predominantly in a PKC-dependent manner in both HEK293 cells expressing TRPV1 and mouse DRG neurons. In the presence of PGE2 or PGI2, the temperature threshold for TRPV1 activation was reduced below 35 degrees C, so that temperatures near body temperature are sufficient to activate TRPV1. A PKA-dependent pathway was also involved in the potentiation of TRPV1 through EP4 and IP receptors upon exposure to PGE2 and PGI2, respectively. Both PGE2-induced thermal hyperalgesia and inflammatory nociceptive responses were diminished in TRPV1-deficient mice and EP1-deficient mice. IP receptor involvement was also demonstrated using TRPV1-deficient mice and IP-deficient mice. Thus, the potentiation or sensitization of TRPV1 activity through EP1 or IP activation might be one important mechanism underlying the peripheral nociceptive actions of PGE2 or PGI2.

Regulation mechanisms of vanilloid receptors.

The capsaicin receptor TRPV1 (also known as the vanilloid receptor VR1) is a non-selective cation channel and is activated not only by capsaicin but also by noxious heat or protons. Tissue damage associated with infection, inflammation or ischaemia, produces an array of chemical mediators that activate or sensitize nociceptor terminals. An important component of this pro-algeic response is ATP. In cells expressing TRPV1, ATP increased the currents evoked by capsaicin or protons through activation of P2Y metabotropic receptors in a PKC-dependent manner. In the presence of ATP, the temperature threshold for TRPV1 activation was reduced from 42 degrees C to 35 degrees C, such that normal body temperature could activate TRPV1. Functional interaction between P2Y receptors and TRPV1 was confirmed in a behavioural analysis using TRPV1-deficient mice. Direct phosphorylation of TRPV1 by PKC was confirmed biochemically and the two serine residues involved were identified. Extracellular Ca2+ -dependent desensitization of TRPV1 is thought to be one mechanism underlying the paradoxical effectiveness of capsaicin as an analgesic therapy. The Ca2+ -binding protein calmodulin binds to the C-terminus of TRPV1. We found that disruption of the calmodulin binding segment prevented TRPV1 desensitization even in the presence of extracellular Ca2+.

Proteinase-activated receptor 2-mediated potentiation of transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily 1 activity reveals a mechanism for proteinase-induced inflammatory pain.

Proteinase-activated receptor (PAR) 2 is expressed on a subset of primary afferent neurons and involved in inflammatory nociception. Transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily 1 (TRPV1) is a sensory neuron-specific cation channel that responds to capsaicin, protons, or heat stimulus. Here, we show that TRPV1 is coexpressed with PAR2 but not with PAR1 or PAR3, and that TRPV1 can functionally interact with PAR2. In human embryonic kidney 293 cells expressing TRPV1 and PAR2, PAR2 agonists increased capsaicin- or proton-evoked TRPV1 currents through a PKC-dependent pathway. After application of PAR2 agonists, temperature threshold for TRPV1 activation was reduced from 42 degrees C to well below the body temperature. PAR2-mediated Fos expression in spinal cord was decreased in TRPV1-deficient mice. The functional interaction was also observed in mouse DRG neurons and proved at a behavioral level. These represent a novel mechanism through which trypsin or tryptase released in response to tissue inflammation might trigger the sensation of pain by PAR2 activation.

Possible involvement of P2Y2 metabotropic receptors in ATP-induced transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1-mediated thermal hypersensitivity.

The capsaicin receptor transient receptor potential V1 (TRPV1; also known as vanilloid receptor 1) is a sensory neuron-specific ion channel that serves as a polymodal detector of pain-producing chemical and physical stimuli. It has been reported that extracellular ATP potentiates the TRPV1 currents evoked by capsaicin or protons and reduces the temperature threshold for its activation through metabotropic P2Y receptors in a PKC-dependent pathway, suggesting that TRPV1 activation could trigger the sensation of pain at normal body temperature in the presence of ATP. Here, we show that ATP-induced thermal hyperalgesia was abolished in mice lacking TRPV1, suggesting the functional interaction between ATP and TRPV1 at a behavioral level. However, thermal hyperalgesia was preserved in P2Y1 receptor-deficient mice. Patch-clamp analyses using mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons indicated the involvement of P2Y2 rather than P2Y1 receptors. Coexpression of TRPV1 mRNA with P2Y2 mRNA, but not P2Y1 mRNA, was determined in the rat lumbar DRG using in situ hybridization histochemistry. These data indicate the importance of metabotropic P2Y2 receptors in nociception through TRPV1.

Differential effects of intraplantar capsazepine and ruthenium red on capsaicin-induced desensitization in mice.

Intraplantar injection of capsaicin (1.6 microg/paw) into the mouse hindpaw produced an acute paw-licking/biting response. This study was designed (1) to investigate the antinociceptive effects of intraplantar administration of capsazepine, a competitive vanilloid receptor antagonist, and ruthenium red, a noncompetitive antagonist, in the nociceptive licking/biting response induced by intraplantar injection of capsaicin, and (2) to determine whether these compounds were able to prevent capsaicin-induced desensitization in mice. Both capsazepine and ruthenium red produced a dose-dependent reduction in the capsaicin-induced nociceptive response. In licking/biting response to intraplantar capsaicin, ruthenium red was more potent than capsazepine in producing antinociceptive activity as assayed by the capsaicin test. The first injection of capsaicin induced a profound desensitization to the second and third injections of capsaicin at the interval of 15 or 30 min. The capsaicin-induced desensitization was prevented dose-dependently by antinociceptive doses of capsazepine, whereas ruthenium red in doses exhibiting antinociceptive activity was without effect on capsaicin-induced desensitization. The present results suggest that both capsazepine and ruthenium red can produce a local peripheral antinociceptive action, which may be mediated by inhibiting the membrane ion channel activated by capsaicin. In addition, these data suggest that capsazepine may act in the mechanism clearly different from ruthenium red in the capsaicin-induced nociceptive desensitization.

Measurement of dorsal root ganglion P2X mRNA by SYBR Green fluorescence.

The P2X receptor is a receptor-gated cationic channel that responds to ATP. The quantification of P2X mRNA expression in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) provides important information for neuropathic pain studies. We developed a rapid and sensitive external-standard-based real-time quantitative PCR assay for the quantification of mRNA of P2X receptors in mouse tissue samples. The assay uses a double-stranded DNA fluorescent dye, SYBR Green I, to continuously monitor product formation with a GeneAmp 5700 Sequence Detection System (PE Applied Biosystems). To establish the quantitative PCR amplification in a wide range of target transcripts, optimum parameters of primer sequences, concentrations of primers and/or templates, and PCR thermal protocols were experimentally determined. We also tested the reliability of this method in established experimental murine models, which were made by ligation or cutting down of the sciatic nerve. The parameters defined in this assay should be applicable to the quantification of other types of pain models and other tissue samples of mouse.

Intrathecal alpha2 adrenoceptor agonist clonidine inhibits mechanical transmission in mouse spinal cord via activation of muscarinic M1 receptors.

We examined the role of the spinal muscarinic receptor subtype in the anti-nociceptive effect of intrathecal (i.t.) alpha2 adrenoceptor agonist clonidine in mice. I.t. injection of the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine completely inhibited i.t. clonidine-induced increase in the mechanical threshold, but did not affect the increase in tail-flick latency induced by i.t. clonidine. The clonidine-induced increase in mechanical threshold was inhibited by i.t. injection of the M1 receptor antagonist pirenzepine in a dose-dependent manner, and by the M3 receptor antagonist 4-DAMP, but not by the M2 receptor antagonist methoctramine. The potency of pirenzepine was greater than that of 4-DAMP. These results suggest that the clonidine-induced increase in mechanical threshold is mediated via the activation of M1 receptors in the spinal cord.

Intrathecal high-dose morphine induces spinally-mediated behavioral responses through NMDA receptors.

Previous research has demonstrated that intrathecal i.t. morphine in a dose of 60.0 nmol into the spinal subarachnoid space of mice can evoke nociceptive behavioral responses consisting of a severe hindlimb scratching directed toward the flank followed by biting/licking of the hindpaw. The present study was undertaken to examine the involvement of spinal N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and opioid receptors on the behavioral responses evoked by high-dose i.t. morphine. Pretreatment with naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist (1.0 and 4.0 mg/kg, s.c.), failed to reverse the morphine-evoked behavioral response, suggesting that the morphine effect is not mediated through the opioid receptors in the spinal cord. The morphine-induced behavior was dose-dependently inhibited by i.t. co-administration of the competitive NMDA receptor antagonists, D(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (D-APV) (6.25-50.0 pmol) and 3-((+)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) (3.125-25.0 pmol). The characteristic behavior was also reduced by co-administration of (5R,10S)-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801) (74.1-250 pmol), an NMDA ion-channel blocker. Ifenprodil, a competitive antagonist of the polyamine recognition site of NMDA receptor ion channel complex, produced a dose-related inhibitory effect on the behavioral response to i.t. morphine with less potency than the competitive and non-competitive antagonists examined. High doses of (+)-HA-966, a glycine/NMDA antagonist, induced a dose-dependent inhibition of morphine-induced response. The effective dose of i.t. 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), a non-NMDA receptor antagonist, needed to reduce the morphine-induced response, was approximately 10-fold greater than that of D-APV. These results suggest that spinal NMDA receptors, but not non-NMDA receptors, may be largely involved in elicitation of the behavioral episode following i.t. injection of morphine in mice.