scholarly journals TNF-α acutely enhances acid-sensing ion channel currents in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons via a p38 MAPK pathway

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang Wei ◽  
Chun-Yu Qiu ◽  
Ying Jin ◽  
Ting-Ting Liu ◽  
Wang-Ping Hu

Abstract Background Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in pain processing and hypersensitivity. It regulates not only the expression of a variety of inflammatory mediators but also the functional activity of some ion channels. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), as key sensors for extracellular protons, are expressed in nociceptive sensory neurons and contribute to pain signaling caused by tissue acidosis. It is still unclear whether TNF-α has an effect on functional activity of ASICs. Herein, we reported that a brief exposure of TNF-α acutely sensitized ASICs in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Methods Electrophysiological experiments on rat DRG neurons were performed in vitro and acetic acid induced nociceptive behavior quantified in vitro. Results A brief (5min) application of TNF-α rapidly enhanced ASIC-mediated currents in rat DRG neurons. TNF-α (0.1-10 ng/ml) dose-dependently increased the proton-evoked ASIC currents with an EC50 value of 0.12 ± 0.01 nM. TNF-α shifted the concentration-response curve of proton upwards with a maximal current response increase of 42.34 ± 7.89%. In current-clamp recording, an acute application of TNF-α also significantly increased acid-evoked firing in rat DRG neurons. The rapid enhancement of ASIC-mediated electrophysiological activity by TNF-α was prevented by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor SB202190, but not by non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, suggesting that p38 MAPK is necessary for this enhancement. Behaviorally, TNF-α exacerbated acid-induced nociceptive behaviors in rats via activation of local p38 MAPK pathway. Conclusions These results suggest that TNF-α rapidly enhanced ASIC-mediated functional activity via a p38 MAPK pathway, which revealed a novel peripheral mechanism underlying TNF-α involvement in rapid hyperalgesia by sensitizing ASICs in primary sensory neurons.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang-Ping Hu ◽  
Shuang Wei ◽  
Ying Jin ◽  
Ting-Ting Liu ◽  
Chun-Yu Qiu

Abstract Background Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in pain processing and hypersensitivity. It regulates not only the expression of a variety of inflammatory mediators but also the functional activity of some ion channels. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), as key sensors for extracellular protons, are expressed in nociceptive sensory neurons and contribute to pain signaling caused by tissue acidosis. It is still unclear whether TNF-α has an effect on functional activity of ASICs. Herein, we reported that a brief exposure of TNF-α acutely sensitized ASICs in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Methods Electrophysiological experiments were performed on neurons from rat DRG. Nociceptive behaviour was induced by acetic acid in rats. Results A brief (5min) application of TNF-α rapidly enhanced ASIC-mediated currents in rat DRG neurons. TNF-α (0.1-10 ng/ml) dose-dependently increased the proton-evoked ASIC currents with an EC 50 value of 1.96 ± 0.15 ng/ml. TNF-α shifted the concentration-response curve of proton upwards with a maximal current response increase of 42.34 ± 7.89%. In current-clamp recording, an acute application of TNF-α also significantly increased acid-evoked firing in rat DRG neurons. The rapid enhancement of ASIC-mediated electrophysiological activity by TNF-α was prevented by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor SB202190, but not by non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, suggesting that p38 MAPK is necessary for this enhancement. Behaviorally, TNF-α exacerbated acid-induced nociceptive behaviors in rats via activation of local p38 MAPK pathway. Conclusions These results suggest that TNF-α rapidly enhanced ASIC-mediated functional activity via a p38 MAPK pathway, which revealed a novel peripheral mechanism underlying TNF-α involvement in rapid hyperalgesia by sensitizing ASICs in primary sensory neurons.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Zhang ◽  
Wenjuan Han ◽  
Jianyong Zheng ◽  
Fancheng Meng ◽  
Xiying Jiao ◽  
...  

Recently several lines of evidence demonstrated that methylcobalamin (MeCbl) might have potential analgesic effect in experimental and clinical studies. However, it was reported that MeCbl had no effect on treating lumbar spinal stenosis induced pain. Thus, the effects of short-term and long-term administration of MeCbl were examined in the chronic compression of dorsal root ganglion (CCD) model. We found that mechanical allodynia was significantly inhibited by a continuous application of high dose and a single treatment of a super high dose of MeCbl. Little is known about mechanisms underlying the analgesia of MeCbl. We examined the effect of MeCbl on the spontaneous activity (SA), the excitability, and hyperpolarization-activated nonselective cation ion current in compressed medium-sized dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons using extracellular single fiber recordingin vivoand whole-cell patch clampin vitro. We found that MeCbl significantly inhibited the SA of A-type sensory neurons in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited the excitability of medium-sized DRG neurons. In addition, MeCbl also decreasedIhcurrent density in injured medium-sized DRG neurons. Our results proved that MeCbl might exert an analgesic effect through the inhibitionIhcurrent and then might inhibit the hyperexcitability of primary sensory neurons under neuropathic pain state.


Author(s):  
Edward C. Emery ◽  
Patrik Ernfors

Primary sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) respond and relay sensations that are felt, such as those for touch, pain, temperature, itch, and more. The ability to discriminate between the various types of stimuli is reflected by the existence of specialized DRG neurons tuned to respond to specific stimuli. Because of this, a comprehensive classification of DRG neurons is critical for determining exactly how somatosensation works and for providing insights into cell types involved during chronic pain. This article reviews the recent advances in unbiased classification of molecular types of DRG neurons in the perspective of known functions as well as predicted functions based on gene expression profiles. The data show that sensory neurons are organized in a basal structure of three cold-sensitive neuron types, five mechano-heat sensitive nociceptor types, four A-Low threshold mechanoreceptor types, five itch-mechano-heat–sensitive nociceptor types and a single C–low-threshold mechanoreceptor type with a strong relation between molecular neuron types and functional types. As a general feature, each neuron type displays a unique and predicable response profile; at the same time, most neuron types convey multiple modalities and intensities. Therefore, sensation is likely determined by the summation of ensembles of active primary afferent types. The new classification scheme will be instructive in determining the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying somatosensation, facilitating the development of rational strategies to identify causes for chronic pain.


Author(s):  
Kentaro Nishida ◽  
Yuka Nomura ◽  
Kanako Kawamori ◽  
Akihiro Ohishi ◽  
Kazuki Nagasawa

In dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, ATP is an important neurotransmitter in nociceptive signaling through P2 receptors (P2Rs) such as P2X2/3R, and adenosine is also involved in anti-nociceptive signaling through adenosine A1R. Thus, the clearance system for adenine nucleotide/nucleoside plays a critical role in regulation of nociceptive signaling, but there is little information on it, especially ectoenzyme expression profiles in DRG. In this study, we examined expression and localization of ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases (ENPPs), by which ATP is metabolized to AMP, in rat DRG. The mRNA expression levels of ENPP2 were greater than those of ENPP1 and ENPP3 in rat DRGs. On immunohistochemical analysis, ENPP1, 2 and 3 were found in soma of DRG neurons. Immunopositive rate of ENPP3 was greater than that of ENPP1 and ENPP2 in all DRG neurons. ENPP3, as compared with ENPP1 and ENPP2, was expressed mainly by isolectin B4-positive cells, and slightly by neurofilament 200-positive ones. In this way, the expression profile of ENPP1, 2 and 3 was different in DRGs, and they were mainly expressed in small/medium-sized DRG neurons. Moreover, ENPP1-, 2- and 3-immunoreactivities were colocalized with P2X2R, P2X3R and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), as an ectoenzyme for metabolism from AMP to adenosine. Additionally, PAP-immunoreactivity was colocalized with equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT) 1, as an adenosine uptake system. These results suggest that the clearance system consisted of ENPPs, PAP and ENT1 plays an important role in regulation of nociceptive signaling in sensory neurons.


2014 ◽  
Vol 5;17 (5;9) ◽  
pp. E609-E618
Author(s):  
Nebojsa N. Knezevic

Background: Epidural and intrathecal injections of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) have become the most commonly performed interventional procedures in the United States and worldwide in the last 2 decades. However neuraxial MPA injection has been dogged by controversy regarding the presence of different additives used in commercially prepared glucocorticoids. We previously showed that MPA could be rendered 85% free of polyethylene glycol (PEG) by a simple physical separation of elements in the suspension. Objective: The objective of the present study was to explore a possible cytotoxic effect of commercially available MPA (with intact or reduced preservatives) on rat sensory neurons. Methods: We exposed primary dissociated rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) sensory neurons to commercially available MPA for 24 hours with either the standard (commercial) concentration of preservatives or to different fractions following separation (MPA suspension whose preservative concentration had been reduced, or fractions containing higher concentrations of preservatives). Cells were stained with the TUNEL assay kit to detect apoptotic cells and images were taken on the Bio-Rad Laser Sharp-2000 system. We also detected expression of caspase-3, as an indicator of apoptosis in cell lysates. Results: We exposed sensory neurons from rat DRG to different concentrations of MPA from the original commercially prepared vial. TUNEL assay showed dose-related responses and increased percentages of apoptotic cells with increasing concentrations of MPA. Increased concentrations of MPA caused 1.5 – 2 times higher caspase-3 expression in DRG sensory neurons than in control cells (ANOVA, P = 0.001). Our results showed that MPA with reduced preservatives caused significantly less apoptosis observed with TUNEL assay labeling (P < 0.001) and caspase-3 immunoblotting (P ≤ 0.001) than in neurons exposed to MPA from a commercially prepared vial or “clear phase” that contained higher concentrations of preservatives. Even though MPA with reduced preservatives caused 12.5% more apoptosis in DRG sensory neurons than in control cells, post hoc analysis showed no differences between these 2 groups. Limitations: Our data was collected from in vitro isolated rat DRG neurons. There is a possibility that in vivo neurons have different extents of vulnerability compared to isolated neurons. Conclusions: Results of the present study identified a cytotoxic effect of commercially available MPA with preservatives or with a “clear phase” containing higher concentrations of preservatives on primary isolated rat DRG sensory neurons. This was shown by TUNEL positive assay and by increased caspase-3 expression as one of the final executing steps in apoptotic pathways in DRG neurons. However, our results showed no statistically significant difference between the control cells (salinetreated) and cells treated with MPA with reduced concentrations of preservatives, pointing out that either PEG or myristylgamma-picolinium chloride (MGPC) or their combination have harmful effects on these cells. Reduction of concentrations of preservatives from commercially available MPA suspensions by using the simple method of inverting vials for 2 hours could be considered useful in clinical practice to enhance the safety of this depot steroid when injected neuraxially. Key words: Methylprednisolone acetate, preservatives, dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons, cytotoxic effect, polyethylene glycol, myristylgamma-picolinium chloride


2020 ◽  
Vol 249 ◽  
pp. 112390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xihai Li ◽  
Zhenli Zhang ◽  
Wenna Liang ◽  
Jianwei Zeng ◽  
Xiang Shao ◽  
...  

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 1793-1798 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Womack ◽  
E. W. McCleskey

1. Using patch-clamp methods, we show that brief prepulses to very positive voltages increase (facilitate) the amplitude of current through Ca2+ channels during a subsequent test pulse in some, but not all, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons. The amplitude of this facilitated current generally increases when the Ca2+ channels are inhibited by activation of the mu-opioid receptor. 2. The facilitated current is blocked by omega-conotoxin GVIA, activates in the range of high-threshold Ca2+ channels, and inactivates at relatively negative holding voltages. Thus facilitated current passes through N-type Ca2+ channels, the same channels that are inhibited by opioids and control neurotransmitter release in sensory neurons. 3. Although maximal facilitation occurs only at unphysiologically high membrane potentials (above +100 mV), some facilitation is seen after prepulses to voltages reached during action potentials. After return to the holding potential, facilitation persists for hundreds of milliseconds, considerably longer than in other neurons. Brief trains of pulses designed to mimic action potentials caused small facilitation (19% of maximal) in a fraction (8 of 24) of opioid-inhibited neurons. 4. We conclude that 1) prepulses to extremely positive voltages can cause partial recovery of Ca2+ channels inhibited by opioids; and 2) small, but detectable, facilitation is also seen after physiological stimulation in some DRG neurons. Facilitation, largely considered a biophysical epiphenomenon because of the extreme voltages used to induce it, appears to be physiologically relevant during opioid inhibition of Ca2+ channels in DRG neurons.


Molecules ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 2004-2028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingzhou Li ◽  
Xinming Zhou ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Lili Wang ◽  
Long Long ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Wu Zhaoxia ◽  
Chen Meixin ◽  
Li Yiqun ◽  
Yang Shuxuan ◽  
Wen Xianjie

Objective: To investigate whether CaMKⅡα participates in the dorsal root ganglion neurotoxicity induced by ropivacaine hydrochloride. Methods: DRG neurons were isolated from 1-day-old SD rats and cultured in vitro. pAd-shRNA-CaMKⅡα-DRG cells were constructed by RNA interference technique to inhibit the expression of CaMKⅡα. The experiment was divided into six groups: DRG group (DRG group), vector DRG group (vector group), pAd-shRNA- CaMKIIα-DRG group (pAd-shRNA group), DRG + ropivacaine group (DRG + R group), vector DRG + ropivacaine group (vector + R group), pAd-shRNA-CaMKII α - DRG + ropivacaine group (pAd-shRNA + R group), and the last three groups were treated with 3 mM ropivacaine hydrochloride for 4 hours. MTT assay was used to detect cell viability, flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis rate, laser confocal microscopy was used to detect intracellular calcium level, and real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of CaMKⅡα, Cav3.2 and Cav3.3. Results: The cell viability of DRG+R group, vector+R group and pAd-shRNA+R group decreased significantly after 3 mM ropivacaine hydrochloride treatment for 4 h. Compared with DRG+R group, the cell viability of pAd-shRNA+R group was significantly higher. After 3 mM ropivacaine hydrochloride treatment for 4 h, the apoptosis rate of DRG + R group, vector + R group and pAd-shRNA + R group increased significantly. Compared with DRG+R group, the apoptosis rate in pAd shRNA+R group was significantly lower. After 3 mM ropivacaine hydrochloride treatment for 4 h, the intracellular calcium levels in DRG + R group, vector + R group and pAd-shRNA + R group were significantly increased, and the intracellular calcium levels in pAd-shRNA + R group were significantly lower than those in DRG + R group. The mRNA expressions of CaMKⅡα, Cav3.2 and Cav3.3 were significantly decreased in pAd- shRNA group. The mRNA expressions of CaMK Ⅱ α, Cav3.2 and Cav3.3 were up-regulated in DRG + R group, vector + R group and pAd-shRNA + R group after 3 mm ropivacaine treatment for 4 h. The mRNA expressions of CaMKⅡα, Cav3.2 and Cav3.3 in pAd-shRNA + R group were significantly lower than those in DRG + R group. Conclusion: Inhibition of CaMKⅡα expression can down regulate the expression of Cav3.2 and Cav3.3 mRNA, increase cell viability of DRG neurons, reduce the apoptosis rate, and improve the dorsal root ganglion neurotoxicity induced by ropivacaine hydrochloride.


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