Involvement of the BNP/NPR-A/BKCa pathway in rat trigeminal ganglia following chronic constriction injury

Author(s):  
Wenhua Xu ◽  
Yuzhi Yao ◽  
Dawei Zhu ◽  
Liang Han ◽  
Liecheng Wang ◽  
...  

Accumulating evidence indicates that the brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) and its receptor (natriuretic peptide receptor, NPR) are widely distributed in a variety of tissues including trigeminal ganglion (TG). Furthermore, recent studies support the involvement of the BNP-NPRA pathway in acute and chronic pain. To investigate the role of this pathway in chronic pain, an infraorbital nerve-chronic constriction injury (ION-CCI) model of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) was produced in the rat. The time-course of changes in mechanical pain threshold was examined. We observed an upregulation of BNP and NPR-A and a downregulation of BKCa mRNA and protein in rats subjected to ION-CCI. Patch clamping experiments in vitro found that BKCa currents were significantly reduced in rats subjected to ION-CCI. BNP increased BKCa currents in ION-CCI rats. These results suggest that BNP and NPRA might serve as endogenous pain relievers in ION-CCI rats. Modulation of the BNP/NPR-A/BKCa channel pathway in TG may be a viable strategy for the treatment of TN.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8966
Author(s):  
Guofang Shen ◽  
Shirley Hu ◽  
Zhen Zhao ◽  
Lubo Zhang ◽  
Qingyi Ma

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is an important vascular regulator that is present in the brain. Our previous study demonstrated the innate neuroprotectant role of CNP in the neonatal brain after hypoxic-ischemic (HI) insults. In this study, we further explored the role of CNP in cerebrovascular pathology using both in vivo and in vitro models. In a neonatal mouse HI brain injury model, we found that intracerebroventricular administration of recombinant CNP dose-dependently reduces brain infarct size. CNP significantly decreases brain edema and immunoglobulin G (IgG) extravasation into the brain tissue, suggesting a vasculoprotective effect of CNP. Moreover, in primary brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), CNP dose-dependently protects BMEC survival and monolayer integrity against oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). The vasculoprotective effect of CNP is mediated by its innate receptors NPR2 and NPR3, in that inhibition of either NPR2 or NPR3 counteracts the protective effect of CNP on IgG leakage after HI insult and BMEC survival under OGD. Of importance, CNP significantly ameliorates brain atrophy and improves neurological deficits after HI insults. Altogether, the present study indicates that recombinant CNP exerts vascular protection in neonatal HI brain injury via its innate receptors, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neonatal HI brain injury.


Author(s):  
Sascha R. A. Alles ◽  
Anne-Marie Malfait ◽  
Richard J. Miller

Pain is not a simple phenomenon and, beyond its conscious perception, involves circuitry that allows the brain to provide an affective context for nociception, which can influence mood and memory. In the past decade, neurobiological techniques have been developed that allow investigators to elucidate the importance of particular groups of neurons in different aspects of the pain response, something that may have important translational implications for the development of novel therapies. Chemo- and optogenetics represent two of the most important technical advances of recent times for gaining understanding of physiological circuitry underlying complex behaviors. The use of these techniques for teasing out the role of neurons and glia in nociceptive pathways is a rapidly growing area of research. The major findings of studies focused on understanding circuitry involved in different aspects of nociception and pain are highlighted in this article. In addition, attention is drawn to the possibility of modification of chemo- and optogenetic techniques for use as potential therapies for treatment of chronic pain disorders in human patients.


Author(s):  
Jelena Damm ◽  
Joachim Roth ◽  
Rüdiger Gerstberger ◽  
Christoph Rummel

AbstractBackground:Studies with NF-IL6-deficient mice indicate that this transcription factor plays a dual role during systemic inflammation with pro- and anti-inflammatory capacities. Here, we aimed to characterize the role of NF-IL6 specifically within the brain.Methods:In this study, we tested the capacity of short interfering (si) RNA to silence the inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor-interleukin 6 (NF-IL6) in brain cells underResults:In cells of a mixed neuronal and glial primary culture from the ratConclusions:This approach was, thus, not suitable to characterize the role NF-IL6 in the brain


2012 ◽  
Vol 123 (11) ◽  
pp. 635-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radko Komers ◽  
Shaunessy Rogers ◽  
Terry T. Oyama ◽  
Bei Xu ◽  
Chao-Ling Yang ◽  
...  

In the present study, we investigated the activity of the thiazide-sensitive NCC (Na+–Cl− co-transporter) in experimental metabolic syndrome and the role of insulin in NCC activation. Renal responses to the NCC inhibitor HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide), as a measure of NCC activity in vivo, were studied in 12-week-old ZO (Zucker obese) rats, a model of the metabolic syndrome, and in ZL (Zucker lean) control animals, together with renal NCC expression and molecular markers of NCC activity, such as localization and phosphorylation. Effects of insulin were studied further in mammalian cell lines with inducible and endogenous expression of this molecule. ZO rats displayed marked hyperinsulinaemia, but no differences in plasma aldosterone, compared with ZL rats. In ZO rats, natriuretic and diuretic responses to NCC inhibition with HCTZ were enhanced compared with ZL rats, and were associated with a decrease in BP (blood pressure). ZO rats displayed enhanced Thr53 NCC phosphorylation and predominant membrane localization of both total and phosphorylated NCC, together with a different profile in expression of SPAK (Ste20-related proline/alanine-rich kinase) isoforms, and lower expression of WNK4. In vitro, insulin induced NCC phosphorylation, which was blocked by a PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) inhibitor. Insulin-induced reduction in WNK4 expression was also observed, but delayed compared with the time course of NCC phosphorylation. In summary, we report increased NCC activity in hyperinsulinaemic rodents in conjunction with the SPAK expression profile consistent with NCC activation and reduced WNK4, as well as an ability of insulin to induce NCC stimulatory phosphorylation in vitro. Together, these findings indicate that hyperinsulinaemia is an important driving force of NCC activity in the metabolic syndrome with possible consequences for BP regulation.


1998 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norbert Dieringer ◽  
Hans Straka

Removal of the labyrinthine organs on one side results in a number of severe postural and dynamic reflex deficits. Over time some of these behavioral deficits normalize again. At a chronic stage the brain of frogs exhibits a number of changes in vestibular and propriospinal circuits on the operated side that were studied in vitro. The onset of changes in the vestibular nuclear complex was delayed, became evident only after head posture had recovered by more than 50%, and was independent of the presence or absence of a degeneration of vestibular nerve afferent fibers. The time course of changes measured in the isolated spinal cord paralleled the time course of normalization of head and body posture. Results obtained after selective lesions of individual labyrinthine nerve branches show that unilateral inactivation of utricular afferent inputs is a necessary and sufficient condition to provoke postural deficits and propriospinal changes similar to those after the removal of all labyrinthine organs. The presence of multiple synaptic changes at distributed anatomic sites over different periods of time suggests that different parts of the central nervous system are involved in the normalization of different manifestations of the vestibular lesion syndrome. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1998;119:27–33.)


STEMedicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. e43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Iseppon ◽  
Manuel Arcangeletti

Pain afflicts billions of people worldwide, who suffer especially from long-term chronic pain. This gruelling condition affects the nervous system at all levels: from the brain to the spinal cord, the Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) and the peripheral fibres innervating the skin. The nature of the different molecular and cellular components of the somatosensory modalities, as well as the complexity of the peripheral and central circuitry are yet poorly understood. Light-based techniques such as optogenetics, in concert with the recent advances in single-cell genetic profiling, can help to elucidate the role of diverse neuronal sub-populations in the encoding of different sensory and painful stimuli by switching these neurons on and off via optically active proteins, namely opsins.  Recently, photopharmacology has emerged from the efforts made to advance optogenetics. The introduction of azo-benzene-based light-sensitive molecular switches has been applied to a wide variety of molecular targets, from ion channels and receptors to transporters, enzymes and many more, some of which are paramount for pain research and therapy. In this Review, we summarise the recent advances in the fields of optogenetics and photopharmacology and we discuss the use of light-based techniques for the study of acute and chronic pain physiology, as well as their potential for future therapeutic use to improve pain treatment.


Development ◽  
1962 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-382
Author(s):  
M. S. Lakshmi

Brachet's (1950) strong emphasis on the role of —SH-containing proteins in the process of induction has stimulated a study of the interference in the normal process of morphogenesis of chick embryos by chloroacetophenone, which has been described by Beatty (1951) as a specific and irreversible —SH inhibitor. He studied the effect of chloroacetophenone on the development of embryos of Rana and Triturus employing different concentrations. Deuchar (1957) also studied the action of the same chemical on the embryos of Xenopus laevis and has recorded abnormalities mainly in the brain and the eye. In the present work ω-chloroacetophenone (CAP) commercially known as phenacyl chloride (ω—C6H5.CO.CH2Cl) was employed. The sample used was a B.D.H. product. Fresh fertilized hens' eggs brought from a local poultry farm were incubated at 37·5° C. for 16 to 18 hours to obtain definitive primitive-streak stages (range of length from 1·75 mm. to 2 mm.) or for about 22 hours to obtain head-process stages (average length of the head process alone 0·56 mm.).


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (13) ◽  
pp. eaaz7130 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Le Maout ◽  
K. Alessandri ◽  
B. Gurchenkov ◽  
H. Bertin ◽  
P. Nassoy ◽  
...  

Characterization of tumor growth dynamics is of major importance for cancer understanding. By contrast with phenomenological approaches, mechanistic modeling can facilitate disclosing underlying tumor mechanisms and lead to identification of physical factors affecting proliferation and invasive behavior. Current mathematical models are often formulated at the tissue or organ scale with the scope of a direct clinical usefulness. Consequently, these approaches remain empirical and do not allow gaining insight into the tumor properties at the scale of small cell aggregates. Here, experimental and numerical studies of the dynamics of tumor aggregates are performed to propose a physics-based mathematical model as a general framework to investigate tumor microenvironment. The quantitative data extracted from the cellular capsule technology microfluidic experiments allow a thorough quantitative comparison with in silico experiments. This dual approach demonstrates the relative impact of oxygen and external mechanical forces during the time course of tumor model progression.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catarina Chaves ◽  
Xavier Declèves ◽  
Meryam Taghi ◽  
Marie-Claude Menet ◽  
Joelle Lacombe ◽  
...  

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) hinders the brain delivery of many anticancer drugs. In pediatric patients, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) represents the main cause of brain cancer mortality lacking effective drug therapy. Using sham and DIPG-bearing rats, we analyzed (1) the brain distribution of 3-kDa-Texas red-dextran (TRD) or [14C]-sucrose as measures of BBB integrity, and (2) the role of major ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters at the BBB on the efflux of the irinotecan metabolite [3H]-SN-38. The unaffected [14C]-sucrose or TRD distribution in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem regions in DIPG-bearing animals suggests an intact BBB. Targeted proteomics retrieved no change in P-glycoprotein (P-gp), BCRP, MRP1, and MRP4 levels in the analyzed regions of DIPG rats. In vitro, DIPG cells express BCRP but not P-gp, MRP1, or MRP4. Dual inhibition of P-gp/Bcrp, or Mrp showed a significant increase on SN-38 BBB transport: Cerebrum (8.3-fold and 3-fold, respectively), cerebellum (4.2-fold and 2.8-fold), and brainstem (2.6-fold and 2.2-fold). Elacridar increased [3H]-SN-38 brain delivery beyond a P-gp/Bcrp inhibitor effect alone, emphasizing the role of another unidentified transporter in BBB efflux of SN-38. These results confirm a well-preserved BBB in DIPG-bearing rats, along with functional ABC-transporter expression. The development of chemotherapeutic strategies to circumvent ABC-mediated BBB efflux are needed to improve anticancer drug delivery against DIPG.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alonso Zavafer ◽  
Ievgeniia Iermak ◽  
Mun Hon Cheah ◽  
Wah Soon Chow

AbstractThe quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence caused by photodamage of Photosystem II (qI) is a well recognized phenomenon, where the nature and physiological role of which are still debatable. Paradoxically, photodamage to the reaction centre of Photosystem II is supposed to be alleviated by excitation quenching mechanisms which manifest as fluorescence quenchers. Here we investigated the time course of PSII photodamage in vivo and in vitro and that of picosecond time-resolved chlorophyll fluorescence (quencher formation). Two long-lived fluorescence quenching processes during photodamage were observed and were formed at different speeds. The slow-developing quenching process exhibited a time course similar to that of the accumulation of photodamaged PSII, while the fast-developing process took place faster than the light-induced PSII damage. We attribute the slow process to the accumulation of photodamaged PSII and the fast process to an independent quenching mechanism that precedes PSII photodamage and that alleviates the inactivation of the PSII reaction centre.


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