Blockade of neuropathic pain by antisense targeting of tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channels in sensory neurons.
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Publications and source records attributed to J Lai.
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Neuropathic pain is often associated with the appearance of pain in regions not related to the injured nerve. One mechanism that may underlie neuropathic pain is abnormal, spontaneous afferent drive which may contribute to NMDA-mediated central sensitization by the actions of glutamate and by the non-opioid actions of spinal dynorphin. In the present study, injuries to lumbar or sacral spinal nerves elicited elevation in spinal dynorphin content which correlated temporally and spatially with signs of neuropathic pain. The increase in spinal dynorphin content was coincident with the onset of tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Injury to the lumbar (L(5)/L(6)) spinal nerves produced elevated spinal dynorphin content in the ipsilateral dorsal spinal quadrant at the L(5) and L(6) spinal segments and in the segments immediately adjacent. Lumbar nerve injury elicited ipsilateral tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia of the hindpaw. In contrast, S(2) spinal nerve ligation elicited elevated dynorphin content in sacral spinal segments and bilaterally in the caudal lumbar spinal cord. The behavioral consequences of S(2) spinal nerve ligation were also bilateral, with tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia seen in both hindpaws. Application of lidocaine to the site of S(2) ligation blocked thermal hyperalgesia and tactile allodynia of the hindpaws suggesting that afferent drive was critical to maintenance of the pain state. Spinal injection of antiserum to dynorphin A((1-17)) and of MK-801 both blocked thermal hyperalgesia, but not tactile allodynia, of the hindpaw after S(2) ligation. These data suggest that the elevated spinal dynorphin content consequent to peripheral nerve injury may drive sensitization of the spinal cord, in part through dynorphin acting directly or indirectly on the NMDA receptor complex. Furthermore, extrasegmental increases in spinal dynorphin content may partly underlie the development of extraterritorial neuropathic pain.
Complete or partial spinal section at T(8) has been shown to block tactile allodynia but not thermal hyperalgesia following L(5)/L(6) spinal nerve ligation (SNL), suggesting the supraspinal integration of allodynia in neuropathic pain. In the present study, the possibility of mediation of nerve injury-associated pain through tonic activity of descending nociceptive facilitation arising from the rostroventromedial medulla (RVM) was investigated. Specifically, the actions of brainstem cholecystokinin and the possible importance of sustained afferent input from injured nerve fibers were determined using pharmacological and physiological approaches in rats with SNL. Lidocaine given bilaterally into the RVM blocked tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in SNL rats and was inactive in sham-operated rats. Bilateral injection of L365,260 (CCK(B) receptor antagonist) into the RVM also reversed both tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Microinjection of CCK-8 (s) into the RVM of naive rats produced a robust tactile allodynic effect and a more modest hyperalgesia. CCK immunoreactivity was not significantly different between SNL and sham-operated rats. The anti-nociceptive effect of morphine given into the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray region (PAG) was substantially reduced by SNL. The injection of L365,260 into the RVM or of bupivacaine at the site of nerve injury restored the potency and efficacy of PAG morphine in SNL rats. These results suggest that changes in supraspinal processing are likely to contribute to the observed poor efficacy of opioids in clinical states of neuropathic pain. These data also indicate that the activation of descending nociceptive facilitatory pathways is important in the maintenance of neuropathic pain, appears to be dependent on CCK release, and may be driven from sustained afferent input from injured nerves to brainstem sites. Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that abnormal tonic activity of descending facilitation mechanisms may underlie chronic pain from peripheral nerve injury.
We utilized a novel peptide library approach to identify specific inhibitors of ZAP-70, a protein Tyr kinase involved in T cell activation. By screening more than 6 billion peptides oriented by a common Tyr residue for their ability to bind to ZAP-70, we determined a consensus optimal peptide. A Phe-for-Tyr substituted version of the peptide inhibited ZAP-70 protein Tyr kinase activity by competing with protein substrates (K(I) of 2 microM). The related protein Tyr kinases, Lck and Syk, were not significantly inhibited by the peptide. When introduced into intact T cells, the peptide blocked signaling downstream of ZAP-70, including ZAP-70-dependent gene induction, without affecting upstream Tyr phosphorylation. Thus, screening Tyr-oriented peptide libraries can identify selective peptide inhibitors of protein Tyr kinases.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of orthodontic treatment on the soft tissue facial profile of patients with long and short facial types. Orthodontic treatment records of 99 white long-faced and short-faced patients were analyzed to determine the effects of edgewise orthodontic treatment over an average period of 2.16 +/- 0.32 years. The average ages at the initiation and conclusion of treatment were 13.40 +/- 0.40 years and 15.61 +/- 0.29 years, respectively. A significant finding in this study was the large variability in soft tissue response to tooth movement. This variability was due to a wide dispersion of individual results between upper and lower lip change to maxillary and mandibular incisor movement anteriorly or posteriorly. Because of this soft tissue variability among individuals, definite differences between the long-faced and short-faced types could not be identified, nor was it possible to establish definite ratios for change in lip response to incisor movements.
Neuropathic pain is associated with abnormal tactile and thermal responses that may be extraterritorial to the injured nerve. Importantly, tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia may involve separate pathways, since complete and partial spinal cord lesions have blocked allodynia, but not hyperalgesia, after spinal nerve ligation (SNL). Furthermore, lesions of the dorsal column, and lidocaine microinjected into dorsal column nuclei block only tactile allodynia. Conversely, thermal hyperalgesia, but not tactile allodynia was blocked by desensitization of C-fibers with resiniferotoxin. Therefore, it seems that tactile allodynia is likely to be mediated by large diameter A beta fibers, and not susceptible to modulation by spinal opioids, whereas hyperalgesia is mediated by unmyelinated C-fibers, and is sensitive to blockade by spinal opioids. Additionally, abnormal, spontaneous afferent drive in neuropathic pain may contribute to NMDA-mediated central sensitization by glutamate and by non-opioid actions of spinal dynorphin. Correspondingly, SNL elicited elevation in spinal dynorphin content in spinal segments at and adjacent to the zone of entry of the injured nerve along with signs of neuropathic pain. Antiserum to dynorphin A(1-17) or MK-801 given spinally blocked thermal hyperalgesia, but not tactile allodynia, after SNL, and also restored diminished morphine antinociception. Finally, afferent drive may induce descending facilitation from the rostroventromedial medulla (RVM). Blocking afferent drive with bupivicaine also restored lost potency of PAG morphine, as did CCK antagonists in the RVM. This observation is consistent with afferent drive activating descending facilitation from the RVM, and thus diminishing opioid activity, and may underlie the clinical observation of limited responsiveness of neuropathic pain to opioids.
The opioid peptide dynorphin A is known to elicit a number of pathological effects that may result from neuronal excitotoxicity. An up-regulation of this peptide has also been causally related to the dysesthesia associated with inflammation and nerve injury. These effects of dynorphin A are not mediated through opioid receptor activation but can be effectively blocked by pretreatment with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, thus implicating the excitatory amino acid system as a mediator of the actions of dynorphin A and/or its fragments. A direct interaction between dynorphin A and the NMDA receptors has been well established; however the physiological relevance of this interaction remains equivocal. This study examined whether dynorphin A elicits a neuronal excitatory effect that may underlie its activation of the NMDA receptors. Calcium imaging of individual cultured cortical neurons showed that the nonopioid peptide dynorphin A(2-17) induced a time- and dose-dependent increase in intracellular calcium. This excitatory effect of dynorphin A(2-17) was insensitive to (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]-cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK-801) pretreatment in NMDA-responsive cells. Thus dynorphin A stimulates neuronal cells via a nonopioid, non-NMDA mechanism. This excitatory action of dynorphin A could modulate NMDA receptor activity in vivo by enhancing excitatory neurotransmitter release or by potentiating NMDA receptor function in a calcium-dependent manner. Further characterization of this novel site of action of dynorphin A may provide new insight into the underlying mechanisms of dynorphin excitotoxicity and its pathological role in neuropathy.
Occludin and 18 distinct members of the claudin family are tetra-span transmembrane proteins that are localized in cell-specific tight junctions (TJs). A previous study showed that expression of chick occludin in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells raised transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and, paradoxically, increased mannitol flux. In the present study, we employed epitope tagged canine occludin expression, under the control of the tetracycline repressible transactivator, to determine the extent to which the unexpected parallel increase in TER and mannitol flux was related to a structural mismatch between avian and canine occludins, which are only 50% identical. To determine whether the paradoxical changes in permeability was specific to occludin, we assessed the effect of over-expressing epitope tagged murine claudin-1. Our data revealed that over-expression of either of the epitope tagged mammalian tight junction proteins increased TER, mannitol and FITC-dextran flux. We observed a 2- and up to 5.6-fold over-expression of occludin-VSV-G and claudin-1-myc, respectively, with no change in ZO-1, endogenous occludin or claudin-1 expression. Confocal microscopy revealed that occludin-VSV-G, claudin-1-myc and ZO-1 co-localized at the TJ. In addition, claudin-1-myc formed aberrant strands along the lateral cell surface without an underlying ZO-1 scaffold. In fracture labeled replicas these strands consisted of claudin-1-myc with little accompanying occludin. These observations suggest that in epithelial cells claudin-1 can assemble into TJ strands without the participation of either ZO-1 or occludin. The proximity of the myc tag to the COOH-terminal YV sequence of claudin-1 appeared to interfere with its interaction with ZO-1, since over-expression of non-tagged claudin-1 increased TER but had a minimal effect on solute flux and no aberrant strands formed. From our data we conclude that differences in structure between avian and mammalian occludin do not account for the observed paradoxical increase in mannitol flux. Levels of ZO-1 remained unchanged despite substantial increases in induced TJ integral protein expression, suggesting that an imbalance between levels of ZO-1 and occludin or claudin-1 leads to altered regulation of pores through which non-charged solute flux occurs. We suggest that ion and solute flux are differentially regulated at the TJ.
The action of calmodulin (CaM) on target proteins is important for a variety of cellular functions. We demonstrate here, however, that the presence of a CaM-binding site on a protein does not necessarily imply a functional effect. The alpha-subunit of the cGMP-gated cation channel of human retinal cones has a CaM-binding site on its cytoplasmic N-terminal region, but the homomeric channel that it forms is not functionally modulated by CaM. Mutational analysis based on comparison to the highly homologous olfactory cyclic nucleotide-gated channel alpha-subunit, which does form a CaM-modulated channel, indicates that residues downstream of the CaM-binding domain on these channels are also important for CaM to have an effect. These findings suggest that a CaM-binding site and complementary structural features in a protein probably evolve independently, and an effect caused by CaM occurs only in the presence of both elements. More generally, the same may be true for other recognized binding sites on proteins for modulators or activators, so that a demonstrated physical interaction does not necessarily imply functional consequence.
A multiplicative antinociceptive interaction of morphine activity at supraspinal and spinal sites has been clearly established and is thought to be responsible, in part, for the clinical utility of this compound in normal dose-ranges. While synergistic actions of mu-opioid receptor agonists have been shown, it is unclear whether a similar interaction exists for opioid agonists acting via delta-opioid receptors. Responses to acute nociception were determined with the 52 degrees C hot plate, 52 degrees C warm-water tail-flick and the Hargreaves paw-withdrawal tests. The peptidic opioid delta(1) agonist [D-Pen(2),D-Pen(5)]enkephalin (DPDPE) or delta(2) agonist [D-Ala(2),Glu(4)]deltorphin (DELT) were given into the rostral-ventral medulla (RVM), intrathecally (i.th.) or simultaneously into both the RVM and i.th. (1:1 fixed ratio). Both of the opioid delta agonists produced dose-dependent antinociception in all tests. With the exception of DPDPE in the hot plate test, isobolographic analysis revealed that the supraspinal/spinal antinociceptive interaction for both DPDPE and DELT were synergistic in all nociceptive tests. These data suggest that opioid delta agonists exert a multiplicative antinociceptive interaction between supraspinal and spinal sites to acute noxious stimuli and suggest possibility that compounds acting through delta-opioid receptors may have sufficient potency for eventual clinical application.
Alterations in sodium channel expression and function have been suggested as a key molecular event underlying the abnormal processing of pain after peripheral nerve or tissue injury. Although the relative contribution of individual sodium channel subtypes to this process is unclear, the biophysical properties of the tetrodotoxin-resistant current, mediated, at least in part, by the sodium channel PN3 (SNS), suggests that it may play a specialized, pathophysiological role in the sustained, repetitive firing of the peripheral neuron after injury. Moreover, this hypothesis is supported by evidence demonstrating that selective "knock-down" of PN3 protein in the dorsal root ganglion with specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides prevents hyperalgesia and allodynia caused by either chronic nerve or tissue injury. In contrast, knock-down of NaN/SNS2 protein, a sodium channel that may be a second possible candidate for the tetrodotoxin-resistant current, appears to have no effect on nerve injury-induced behavioral responses. These data suggest that relief from chronic inflammatory or neuropathic pain might be achieved by selective blockade or inhibition of PN3 expression. In light of the restricted distribution of PN3 to sensory neurons, such an approach might offer effective pain relief without a significant side-effect liability.
The co-administration of morphine at spinal (i.th.) and supraspinal (i.c.v.) sites to the same rat produces antinociceptive synergy, a phenomenon which may underlie the clinical analgesic utility of this drug. In animals with peripheral nerve injury, however, the antinociceptive potency and efficacy of i.th. morphine is significantly decreased. Here, the possible loss of spinal/supraspinal morphine antinociceptive synergy and relationship to elevation of spinal dynorphin content was studied. Ligation of lumbar spinal nerves resulted in elevated dynorphin in the ipsilateral lumbar and sacral spinal cord. In sham-operated rats supraspinal/spinal co-administration of morphine produced synergistic antinociception which was unaffected by i.th. MK-801 or dynorphin A((1-17)) antiserum. In nerve-injured rats, i.th. morphine was inactive against tactile allodynia and showed diminished in potency against acute nociception without supraspinal/spinal antinociceptive synergy. Antiserum to dynorphin A((1-17)) or the non-competitive NMDA antagonist MK-801 increased the antinociceptive potency of i.th. morphine, restored supraspinal/spinal morphine antinociceptive synergy and elicited a dose-related i.th. morphine antiallodynic action. These agents did not demonstrate antinociceptive or antiallodynic activity alone and did not alter morphine actions in sham-operated animals. The loss of spinal/supraspinal antinociceptive synergy and lack of antiallodynic activity of spinal morphine appear to be due to the elevation across multiple spinal segments of dynorphin following nerve injury. Pathological actions of elevated dynorphin may directly or indirectly modulate the NMDA receptor, result in a loss of supraspinal/spinal morphine synergy and may thus account for the decreased clinical analgesic efficacy of morphine in peripheral neuropathies.
We utilized the [(35)S]-GTP-gamma-S functional binding assay to determine the selectivity of opioid receptor agonists in guinea pig caudate membranes. The study focused on two opioid agonists used for treating opioid-dependent patients: methadone and buprenorphine. Selective antagonists were used to generate agonist-selective conditions: TIPP + nor-BNI to measure mu receptors, CTAP + nor-BNI to measure gamma receptors and TIPP + CTAP to measure kappa receptors. The assay was first validated with opioid agonists of known subtype specificity (DAMGO for mu, SNC80 for delta, and U69, 593 for kappa receptors). Methadone-stimulated [(35)S]-GTP-gamma-S binding was mu-specific and less potent and efficacious than etorphine (K(d) = 1,537 nM vs. K(d) = 7.8 nM). Buprenorphine failed to stimulate [(35)S]-GTP-gamma-S binding but inhibited agonist-stimulated [(35)S]-GTP-gamma-S binding. The antagonist-K(i) values (nM) of buprenorphine at mu, delta, and kappa receptors were 0.088 nM, 1.15 nM, and 0.072 nM, respectively. The antagonist-K(i) values (nM) of naloxone at mu, delta, and kappa receptors were 1.39 nM, 25.0 nM, and 11.4 nM, respectively. Autoradiographic studies showed that buprenorphine failed to stimulate [(35)S]-GTP-gamma-S binding in caudate-level rat brain sections but blocked DAMGO-stimulated [(35)S]-GTP-gamma-S binding. In cells expressing the cloned rat mu receptor, buprenorphine was a partial agonist and potent mu antagonist. Administration of buprenorphine to rats produced a long-lasting (>24 h) decrease in mu and kappa2 receptor binding and attenuated mu-stimulated [(35)S]-GTP-gamma-S binding. Viewed collectively, these data indicate that, in this assay system, buprenorphine is a potent mu and gamma receptor antagonist. The clinical implications remain to be elucidated. Synapse 34:83-94, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
UNLABELLED: Childhood thyrotoxicosis is an uncommon condition. To investigate the effect of thyrotoxicosis on the growth of children and to detect possible influence of the disease on their final height, 105 Chinese children (90 girls; 15 boys) with thyrotoxicosis were studied longitudinally from diagnosis. At presentation their mean age was 11. 57 years. Their height and weight measurements were converted to standard deviation scores (SDS) using normal height and weight-for-height reference standards for Chinese children established in Hong Kong. Their mean height SDS at diagnosis was +0. 73. Bone age assessment at diagnosis was done in 48 girls and 8 boys and their mean +/- S.D. bone development quotient was 1.16 +/- 0.11. A total of 53 girls have reached adult height and their mean height was 161.3 cm, corresponding to a SDS of +0.63. Their final heights significantly exceeded their target heights. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that children with thyrotoxicosis were tall for age and their bone ages were advanced at presentation. They continued to be tall for age after starting treatment and they achieved final heights exceeding their target height.
The role of plasma membrane lipids in regulating the passage of ions and other solutes through the paracellular pathway remains controversial. In this study we explore the contribution of cholesterol (CH) in maintaining the barrier function of an epithelial cell line using the CH-solubilizing agent methyl beta-cyclodextrin (MBCD) to stimulate CH efflux. Inclusion of 20 mM MBCD in both apical and basolateral media reduced CH levels by 70-80% with no significant effect on cell viability. Most of that decrease occurred during the first 30 min of incubation. Recovery of CH content to initial values was nearly complete 22 h after removal of MBCD. Within 30 min of adding MBCD to the culture medium, transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) increased, reaching maximum values 30-40% above controls. This early rise in TER occurred when MBCD was added to either side of the monolayer. The later rapid decline in TER was observed only when MBCD bathed the basolateral surface from which, coincidentally, CH efflux was most rapid. Freeze fracture replicas and transmission electron microscopy of monolayers exposed to MBCD for only 30 min revealed no increase in either the average tight junction (TJ) strand number or the dimensions of the lateral intercellular space. There was a statistically significant increase in the number of TJ particles associated with the E fracture face at this time. This raises the interesting possibility that during CH efflux there is a change in the interaction between TJ particles and underlying cytoskeletal elements. There was no change in staining for occludin and ZO-1. After exposing the basolateral surface to MBCD for 2 h, TER fell below control levels. The accompanying increase in mannitol flux suggests strongly that the decrease in TER resulted from an increase in the permeability of the paracellular and not the transcellular pathway. A decrease in immuno-staining for occludin and ZO-1 at TJs, a striking accumulation of actin at tri-cellular areas as well as a decline in the number of parallel strands, as seen in freeze fracture replicas, suggest that changes in cytoskeletal organization during long incubations with MBCD had physically disrupted the TJ network. Data are presented which suggest that the observed changes in paracellular permeability during CH efflux may be related to increased levels of lipid-derived second messengers, some of which may trigger changes in the phosphorylation status of TJ proteins.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe lower respiratory tract disease in infants, young children, and the elderly. Efforts to develop satisfactory live or inactivated vaccines have not yet been proven successful. Our research focuses on the development of four purified live attenuated RSV sub-type A human vaccine clones. Temperature sensitive (ts) and attenuated purified clones of either cold-adapted (ca) RSV or high-passage (hp) RSV were administered intra-nasally (i.n.) to BALB/c mice and tested for immunogenicity. All four clones produced significant anti-RSV F IgG2a and IgG1 titres in the sera of mice, RSV-specific neutralizing titres higher than those produced by their wild-type progenitor viruses, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity, and total protection against wild-type (wt) viral challenge. These purified vaccine candidates await testing in humans to determine which contain the required balance between immunogenicity and attenuation.
Tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, two robust signs of neuropathic pain associated with experimental nerve injury, have been hypothesized to be mechanistically distinguished based on (a) fiber types which may be involved in the afferent input, (b) participation of spinal and supraspinal circuitry in these responses, and (c) sensitivity of these endpoints to pharmacological agents. Here, the possibility that nerve-injury induced tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia may be mediated via different afferent fiber input was tested by evaluating these responses in sham-operated or nerve-injured (L5/L6) rats before or after a single systemic injection of resiniferatoxin (RTX), an ultrapotent analogue of the C-fiber specific neurotoxin, capsaicin. Tactile allodynia, and three measures of thermal nociception, tail-flick, paw-flick and hot-plate responses, were determined before and at various intervals for at least 40 days after RTX injection. Nerve-injured, but not sham-operated, rats showed a long-lasting tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia (paw-flick) within 2-3 days after surgery; responses to other noxious thermal stimuli (i.e., tail-flick and hot-plate tests) did not distinguish the two groups at the stimulus intensities employed. RTX treatment resulted in a significant and long-lasting (i.e. essentially irreversible) decrease in sensitivity to thermal noxious stimuli in both sham-operated and nerve-injured rats; thermal hyperalgesia was abolished and antinociception produced by RTX. In contrast, RTX treatment did not affect the tactile allodynia seen in the same nerve-injured rats. These data support the concept that thermal hyperalgesia seen after nerve ligation, as well as noxious thermal stimuli, are likely to be mediated by capsaicin-sensitive C-fiber afferents. In contrast, nerve-injury related tactile allodynia is insensitive to RTX treatment which clearly desensitizes C-fibers and, therefore such responses are not likely to be mediated through C-fiber afferents. The hypothesis that tactile allodynia may be due to inputs from large (i.e. A beta) afferents offers a mechanistic basis for the observed insensitivity of this endpoint to intrathecal morphine in this nerve-injury model. Further, these data suggest that clinical treatment of neuropathic pains with C-fiber specific agents such as capsaicin are unlikely to offer significant therapeutic benefit against mechanical allodynia.
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