@article{OehlerKlokaMohammadietal.2020, author = {Oehler, Beatrice and Kloka, Jan and Mohammadi, Milad and Ben-Kraiem, Adel and Rittner, Heike L.}, title = {D-4F, an ApoA-I mimetic peptide ameliorating TRPA1-mediated nocifensive behaviour in a model of neurogenic inflammation}, series = {Molecular Pain}, volume = {16}, journal = {Molecular Pain}, doi = {10.1177/1744806920903848}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-236061}, pages = {1-11}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Background High doses of capsaicin are recommended for the treatment of neuropathic pain. However, low doses evoke mechanical hypersensitivity. Activation of the capsaicin chemosensor transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) induces neurogenic inflammation. In addition to the release of pro-inflammatory mediators, reactive oxygen species are produced. These highly reactive molecules generate oxidised phospholipids and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) which then directly activate TRP ankyrin 1 (TRPA1). The apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide D-4F neutralises oxidised phospholipids. Here, we asked whether D-4F ameliorates neurogenic hypersensitivity in rodents by targeting reactive oxygen species and 4-HNE in the capsaicin-evoked pain model. Results Co-application of D-4F ameliorated capsaicin-induced mechanical hypersensitivity and allodynia as well as persistent heat hypersensitivity measured by Randell-Selitto, von Frey and Hargreaves test, respectively. In addition, mechanical hypersensitivity was blocked after co-injection of D-4F with the reactive oxygen species analogue H2O2 or 4-HNE. In vitro studies on dorsal root ganglion neurons and stably transfected cell lines revealed a TRPA1-dependent inhibition of the calcium influx when agonists were pre-incubated with D-4F. The capsaicin-induced calcium influx in TRPV1-expressing cell lines and dorsal root ganglion neurons sustained in the presence of D-4F. Conclusions D-4F is a promising compound to ameliorate TRPA1-dependent hypersensitivity during neurogenic inflammation.}, language = {en} } @article{LuxHuBenKraiemetal.2019, author = {Lux, Thomas J. and Hu, Xiawei and Ben-Kraiem, Adel and Blum, Robert and Chen, Jeremy Tsung-Chieh and Rittner, Heike L.}, title = {Regional differences in tight junction protein expression in the blood-DRG barrier and their alterations after nerve traumatic injury in rats}, series = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, volume = {21}, journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, number = {1}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms21010270}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-285029}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The nervous system is shielded by special barriers. Nerve injury results in blood-nerve barrier breakdown with downregulation of certain tight junction proteins accompanying the painful neuropathic phenotype. The dorsal root ganglion (DRG) consists of a neuron-rich region (NRR, somata of somatosensory and nociceptive neurons) and a fibre-rich region (FRR), and their putative epi-/perineurium (EPN). Here, we analysed blood-DRG barrier (BDB) properties in these physiologically distinct regions in Wistar rats after chronic constriction injury (CCI). Cldn5, Cldn12, and Tjp1 (rats) mRNA were downregulated 1 week after traumatic nerve injury. Claudin-1 immunoreactivity (IR) found in the EPN, claudin-19-IR in the FRR, and ZO-1-IR in FRR-EPN were unaltered after CCI. However, laser-assisted, vessel specific qPCR, and IR studies confirmed a significant loss of claudin-5 in the NRR. The NRR was three-times more permeable compared to the FRR for high and low molecular weight markers. NRR permeability was not further increased 1-week after CCI, but significantly more CD68\(^+\) macrophages had migrated into the NRR. In summary, NRR and FRR are different in na{\"i}ve rats. Short-term traumatic nerve injury leaves the already highly permeable BDB in the NRR unaltered for small and large molecules. Claudin-5 is downregulated in the NRR. This could facilitate macrophage invasion, and thereby neuronal sensitisation and hyperalgesia. Targeting the stabilisation of claudin-5 in microvessels and the BDB barrier could be a future approach for neuropathic pain therapy.}, language = {en} }