ly-341495 and Inflammation

Knowing that expression of metabotropic glutamate 2 (mGlu2) receptors in the dorsal root ganglia is regulated by acetylation mechanisms, we examined the effect of two selective and chemically unrelated histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, N-(2-aminophenyl)-4-[N-(pyridine-3-ylmethoxy-carbonyl)aminomethyl]benzamide (MS-275) and suberoylanilide hydroamic acid (SAHA), in a mouse model of persistent inflammatory pain. Although a single subcutaneous injection of MS-275 (3 mg/kg) or SAHA (5-50 mg/kg) was ineffective, a 5-day treatment with either of the two HDAC inhibitors substantially reduced the nociceptive response in the second phase of the formalin test, which reflects the development of central sensitization in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Analgesia was abrogated by a single injection of the mGlu2/3 receptor antagonist (alphaS)-alpha-amino-alpha-[(1S,2S)-2-carboxycyclopropyl]-9H-xantine-9-propanoic acid (LY341495; 1 mg/kg, i.p.), which was inactive per se. Both MS-275 and SAHA up-regulated the expression of mGlu2 receptors in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord under conditions in which they caused analgesia, without changing the expression of mGlu1a, mGlu4, or mGlu5 receptors. Induction of DRG mGlu2 receptors in response to SAHA was associated with increased acetylation of p65/RelA on lysine 310, a process that enhances the transcriptional activity of p65/RelA at nuclear factor-kappaB-regulated genes. Transcription of the mGlu2 receptor gene is known to be activated by p65/RelA in DRG neurons. We conclude that HDAC inhibition produces analgesia by up-regulating mGlu2 receptor expression in the DRG, an effect that results from the amplification of NF-kappaB transcriptional activity. These data provide the first evidence that HDAC inhibitors cause analgesia and suggest that HDACs are potential targets for the epigenetic treatment of pain.

Topics: Amino Acids; Animals; Benzamides; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Enzyme Inhibitors; Epigenesis, Genetic; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; Hydroxamic Acids; Inflammation; Male; Mice; Pain; Pyridines; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; Vorinostat; Xanthenes

Metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) 2/3 is distributed in neurons and glial cells in many regions of the nervous system, but its role in nociceptive processing is unclear. In this study, we examined the mRNA expressions of mGluR2 and mGluR3, by real-time RT-PCR, in the spinal cord. We further investigated the possible involvement of mGluR2/3 and mechanisms underlying peripheral inflammatory pain induced by subcutaneous complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) injection. We demonstrate that compared to the controls, the mRNA expression levels of mGluR2 and mGluR3 were significantly higher 4h after CFA injection. Functionally, blocking mGluR2/3 by their antagonist (2S)-2-amino-2-[(1S, 2S)-2-carboxycycloprop-1-yl]-3-(xanth-9-yl) propanoic acid (LY341495) alleviated the CFA-induced mechanical allodynia and the inhibitory effects were reversed by mGluR2/3 agonist (2R, 4R)-4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate ((2R, 4R)-APDC). In addition, a glial metabolism inhibitor dl-fluorocitric acid barium salt (fluorocitric acid) also inhibited the CFA-induced mechanical allodynia in a dose-dependent manner. Remarkably, simultaneous inhibition of mGluR2/3 and glial metabolism had synergistic effects. The co-administration of LY341495 and fluorocitric acid with minimal dosages produced significant more inhibition than the additive effects by the individual inhibitor alone. In summary, our data suggest that spinal mGluR2/3 contributes to the generation of mechanical allodynia induced by peripheral inflammation. We also suggest that involvement of mGluR2/3 in the communication between glial cells and neurons takes part in the processing of nociceptive information.

Topics: Amino Acids; Analgesics; Animals; Citrates; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Freund's Adjuvant; Hyperesthesia; Inflammation; Male; Neuroglia; Pain; Proline; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; Spinal Cord; Xanthenes

Several lines of evidence indicate that Group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activation can depress sensory transmission. We have reported the expression of Group II mGluRs on unmyelinated axons, many of which were presumed to be nociceptors, in the rat digital nerve [Carlton SM, Hargett GL, Coggeshall RE (2001b) Localization of metabotropic glutamate receptors 2/3 on primary afferent axons in the rat. Neuroscience 105:957-969]. The goals of the present study are to further our understanding of Group II modulation of nociceptor processing in the periphery, documenting behavioral changes using inflammatory models and documenting, for the first time, cutaneous single fiber activity following exposure to a Group II agonist (2R,4R)-4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (APDC) and antagonist (2S)-2-amino-2-[(1S,2S)-2-carboxycycloprop-1-yl]-3-(xanth-9-yl) propanoic acid (LY341495, LY). The data indicate that peripheral Group II mGluR activation does not depress nociceptive behaviors or nociceptor fiber responses in the non-sensitized state (i.e. following brief nociceptive mechanical or thermal stimulation) but can depress these responses when nociceptors are sensitized by exposure to formalin or inflammatory soup. Group II mGluR agonist-induced inhibition can be blocked by a selective Group II antagonist. Peripheral Group II mGluR-induced inhibition evoked in these studies occurs through activation of local receptors and not through spinal or supraspinal mechanisms. The data indicate that administration of selective Group II agonists may be potent therapeutic agents for prevention of peripheral sensitization and for treatment of inflammatory pain.

Topics: Amino Acids; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cyclopentanes; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Hot Temperature; Inflammation; Male; Nerve Fibers; Nociceptors; Pain; Peripheral Nerves; Physical Stimulation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; Skin; Xanthenes