Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are cytochrome P450-epoxygenase-derived metabolites of arachidonic acid that act as endogenous signaling molecules in multiple biological systems. Here we have investigated the specific contribution of 5,6-EET to transient receptor potential (TRP) channel activation in nociceptor neurons and its consequence for nociceptive processing. We found that, during capsaicin-induced nociception, 5,6-EET levels increased in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and the dorsal spinal cord, and 5,6-EET is released from activated sensory neurons in vitro. 5,6-EET potently induced a calcium flux (100 nm) in cultured DRG neurons that was completely abolished when TRPA1 was deleted or inhibited. In spinal cord slices, 5,6-EET dose dependently enhanced the frequency, but not the amplitude, of spontaneous EPSCs (sEPSCs) in lamina II neurons that also responded to mustard oil (allyl isothiocyanate), indicating a presynaptic action. Furthermore, 5,6-EET-induced enhancement of sEPSC frequency was abolished in TRPA1-null mice, suggesting that 5,6-EET presynaptically facilitated spinal cord synaptic transmission by TRPA1. Finally, in vivo intrathecal injection of 5,6-EET caused mechanical allodynia in wild-type but not TRPA1-null mice. We conclude that 5,6-EET is synthesized on the acute activation of nociceptors and can produce mechanical hypersensitivity via TRPA1 at central afferent terminals in the spinal cord.
The E3 ubiquitin ligase MYCBP2 negatively regulates neuronal growth, synaptogenesis, and synaptic strength. More recently it was shown that MYCBP2 is also involved in receptor and ion channel internalization. We found that mice with a MYCBP2-deficiency in peripheral sensory neurons show prolonged thermal hyperalgesia. Loss of MYCBP2 constitutively activated p38 MAPK and increased expression of several proteins involved in receptor trafficking. Surprisingly, loss of MYCBP2 inhibited internalization of transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) and prevented desensitization of capsaicin-induced calcium increases. Lack of desensitization, TRPV internalization and prolonged hyperalgesia were reversed by inhibition of p38 MAPK. The effects were TRPVspecific, since neither mustard oil-induced desensitization nor behavioral responses to mechanical stimuli were affected. In summary, we show here for the first time that p38 MAPK activation can inhibit activity-induced ion channel internalization and that MYCBP2 regulates internalization of TRPV1 in peripheral sensory neurons as well as duration of thermal hyperalgesia through p38 MAPK.The E3-ubiquitin ligase MYCBP2 (Myc-binding protein 2; also known as protein associated with Myc (PAM)) 2 is an unusual large protein with a predicted size of 510 kDa. MYCBP2 orthologs have been described in mouse as Phr1, in zebrafish as Esrom, in drosophila as Highwire and in Caenorhabditis elegans as RPM-1. While MYCBP2 mRNA is found in nearly all human tissues, its expression is exceptionally high in peripheral and central neurons (1-3). MYCBP2 has been shown to act as negative regulators of synaptic growth, synaptogenesis, and neurite growth in C. elegans (4), Drosophila (5), zebrafish (6), and mice (7,8). In C. elegans and Drosophila MYCBP2-dependent growth inhibition is largely mediated by the p38 MAPK pathway (9, 10) whereas in mice the role of p38 MAPK in MYCBP2-regulated axonal growth is less clear.Whereas growth regulation of cortical axons by MYCBP2 does not involve p38 MAPK (8), MYCBP2-dependent axonal overgrowth of spinal cord motor neurons and sensory dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons was regulated by p38 MAPKmediated alterations in microtubule stability (11).Besides its role in the regulation of neuronal growth, also a function of MYCBP2 in neuronal transmission has been demonstrated. In C. elegans and drosophila loss-of-function mutations in the MYCBP2 orthologs decreased the number of synaptic vesicles at cholinergic and GABAergic synapses in a p38 MAPK-dependent manner (9) and reduced strength of synaptic transmission at neuromuscular junctions (5, 12, 13). More recently, it was shown that the MYCBP2 ortholog in C. elegans, RPM-1, prevents in central neurons activity-dependent internalization of AMPA receptors by inhibiting p38 MAPK signaling through ubiquitylation of MAPK kinase kinase 12 (MAPKKK12), (14). Loss of RPM-1 caused constitutive activation of p38MAPK leading to an increased internalization of the AMPA receptor ortholog GLR1.Interestingly, in ma...
Large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels are important regulators of neuronal excitability. Although there is electrophysiological evidence for BKCa channel expression in sensory neurons, their in vivo functions in pain processing have not been fully defined. Using a specific antibody, we demonstrate here that BKCa channels are expressed in subpopulations of peptidergic and nonpeptidergic nociceptors. To test a functional association of BKCa channel activity in sensory neurons with particular pain modalities, we generated mice in which BKCa channels are ablated specifically from sensory neurons and analyzed their behavior in various models of pain. Mutant mice showed increased nociceptive behavior in models of persistent inflammatory pain. However, their behavior in models of neuropathic or acute nociceptive pain was normal. Moreover, systemic administration of the BKCa channel opener, NS1619, inhibited persistent inflammatory pain. Our investigations provide in vivo evidence that BKCa channels expressed in sensory neurons exert inhibitory control on sensory input in inflammatory pain states.
A major immunological response during neuroinflammation is the activation of microglia, which subsequently release proinflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ). Besides its proinflammatory properties, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-derived PGE 2 has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects on innate immune responses. Here, we investigated the role of microsomal PGE 2 synthase-1 (mPGES-1), which is functionally coupled to COX-2, in immune responses using a model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced spinal neuroinflammation. Interestingly, we found that activation of Eprostanoid (EP)2 and EP4 receptors, but not EP1, EP3, PGI 2 receptor (IP), thromboxane A 2 receptor (TP), PGD 2 receptor (DP), and PGF 2 receptor (FP), efficiently blocked LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor ␣ (TNF␣) synthesis and COX-2 and mPGES-1 induction as well as prostaglandin synthesis in spinal cultures. In vivo, spinal EP2 receptors were up-regulated in microglia in response to intrathecally injected LPS. Accordingly, LPS priming reduced spinal synthesis of TNF␣, interleukin 1 (IL-1), and prostaglandins in response to a second intrathecal LPS injection. Importantly, this reduction was only seen in wild-type but not in mPGES-1-deficient mice. Furthermore, intrathecal application of EP2 and EP4 agonists as well as genetic deletion of EP2 significantly reduced spinal TNF␣ and IL-1 synthesis in mPGES-1 knock-out mice after LPS priming. These data suggest that initial inflammation prepares the spinal cord for a negative feedback regulation by mPGES-1-derived PGE 2 followed by EP2 activation, which limits the synthesis of inflammatory mediators during chronic inflammation. Thus, our data suggest a role of mPGES-1-derived PGE 2 in resolution of neuroinflammation.Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer and Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord or peripheral nerve injury, are associated with neuroinflammation (1, 2). Its initiation, maintenance and resolution are regulated by various cell types, including resident microglia, astroglia, and oligodendrocytes as well as invading blood leukocytes. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has traditionally been used to simulate innate immune responses in the central nervous system (CNS) by activating toll-like receptor-4 of microglia (3). Upon activation, microglia release inflammatory mediators such as cytokines, chemokines, free radicals, nitric oxide, or prostaglandins (4). One of the earliest events during LPS-induced neuroinflammation is the synthesis and release of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF␣ by microglia, which reaches maximum concentrations 2-8 h after the initial inflammatory stimulus (5). In effector cells, TNF␣ induces the expression of multiple proteins that further enhance the inflammatory response, including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the functionally coupled microsomal PGE 2 synthase-1 (mPGES-1) 2 (6, 7). After 24 h, TNF␣ levels decrease to base-line levels whereas the activation of glia persists for several days (8). The mechanisms controlling the precise...
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