Mol Pain
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Background Chronic pain is a common symptom in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. The literature shows that the HIV envelope glycoprotein 120 (gp120) can directly cause hyperalgesia by stimulating primary sensory afferent nerves. The P2X7 receptor in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) is closely related to neuropathic and inflammatory pain. ⋯ RES decreased the IL-1β and TNF-α receptor (R) expression levels and ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels as well as increased IL-10 expression in the DRG of gp120-treated rats. Whole cell clamping demonstrated that RES significantly inhibited adenosine triphosphate-activated currents in HEK293 cells that were transfected with the P2X7 plasmid. Conclusions RES relieved mechanical hyperalgesia in gp120-treated rats by inhibiting the P2X7 receptor.
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N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor overactivation is involved in neuronal damage after stroke. However, the mechanism underlying NMDA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity remains unclear. In this study, we confirmed that excessive activation of NMDARs led to cell apoptosis in PC12 cells and in primary cultured cortical neurons, which was mediated predominantly by the GluN2B-containing, but not the GluN2A-containing NMDARs. ⋯ Furthermore, we identified that GluN2B-containing NMDARs underwent endocytosis during excessive NMDA treatment. Peptides specifically disrupting the interaction between GluN2B and AP-2 complex not only blocked endocytosis of GluN2B induced by NMDA treatment but also abolished NMDA-induced excitotoxicity. These results demonstrate that Clathrin-dependent endocytosis of GluN2B-containing NMDARs is critical to NMDA-induced excitotoxicity in PC12 cells and in primary cultured cortical neurons, and therefore provide a novel target for blocking NMDAR-mediated excitotoxicity.
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Background Chronic visceral pain is a defining symptom of many gastrointestinal disorders. The KV7 family (KV7.1-KV7.5) of voltage-gated potassium channels mediates the M current that regulates excitability in peripheral sensory nociceptors and central pain pathways. Here, we use a combination of immunohistochemistry, gut-nerve electrophysiological recordings in both mouse and human tissues, and single-cell qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction of gut-projecting sensory neurons, to investigate the contribution of peripheral KV7 channels to visceral nociception. ⋯ In human bowel tissues, KV7.3 and KV7.5 were expressed in neuronal varicosities co-labelled with synaptophysin and CGRP, and retigabine inhibited bradykinin-induced afferent activation in afferent recordings from human colon. Conclusions We show that KV7 channels contribute to the sensitivity of visceral sensory neurons to noxious chemical and mechanical stimuli in both mouse and human gut tissues. As such, peripherally restricted KV7 openers may represent a viable therapeutic modality for the treatment of gastrointestinal pathologies.
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Previous studies disclosed the pivotal role of methyltransferase complex G9a/Glp in the pathogenesis of neuropathic hypersensitivity induced by peripheral nerve injury. We observed that higher dose of G9a inhibitor improved nociceptive behavior, but the lower dose worsened pain. The aim of this study is to extensively observe the differential effect of various dosages of G9a/Glp inhibitors on nerve injury-induced allodynia. ⋯ Methyltransferase complex G9a/Glp has a threshold role in mediating peripheral nerve injury-induced hypersensitivity at its low level versus high level through inhibiting and facilitating the nociceptive behavior, respectively.
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Peripheral somatosensory neurons are frequently exposed to mechanical forces. Strong stimuli result in neuronal activation of high-threshold mechanosensory afferent neurons, even in the absence of tissue damage. Among these neurons, fast-conducting nociceptors (A-fiber high-threshold mechanoreceptors (AHTMRs)) are normally resistant to sustained activation, transiently encoding the mechanical stimulus intensity but not its full duration. ⋯ Moreover, this phenomenon appears to be unique to this subset of afferent neurons and is absent in slow-conducting C-mechanonociceptors (C-fiber high-threshold mechanoreceptors) and rapidly adapting fast-conducting low-threshold mechanoreceptors. Furthermore, this mechanism for rapid adaptation and reducing ongoing input is ablated by repeated strong stimuli and in sensitized AHTMRs after chronic neuropathic injury. Further studies to understand the underling molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon and their modulation during the development of pathological conditions may provide new targets to control nociceptive hyperexcitability and chronic pain.