Low levels of SIV-specific CD8+ T cells in germinal centers characterizes acute SIV infection.

CD8+ T cells play an important role in controlling of HIV and SIV infections. However, these cells are largely excluded from B cell follicles where HIV and SIV producing cells concentrate during chronic infection. It is not known, however, if antigen-specific CD8+ T cells are excluded gradually as pathogenesis progresses from early to chronic phase, or this phenomenon occurs from the beginning infection. In this study we determined that SIV-specific CD8+ T cells were largely excluded from follicles during early infection, we also found that within follicles, they were entirely absent in 60% of the germinal centers (GCs) examined. Furthermore, levels of SIV-specific CD8+ T cells in follicular but not extrafollicular areas significantly correlated inversely with levels of viral RNA+ cells. In addition, subsets of follicular SIV-specific CD8+ T cells were activated and proliferating and expressed the cytolytic protein perforin. These studies suggest that a paucity of SIV-specific CD8+ T cells in follicles and complete absence within GCs during early infection may set the stage for the establishment of persistent chronic infection.

Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Producing Cells in Follicles Are Partially Suppressed by CD8+ Cells In Vivo.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-specific CD8+ T cells are typically largely excluded from lymphoid B cell follicles, where HIV- and SIV-producing cells are most highly concentrated, indicating that B cell follicles are somewhat of an immunoprivileged site. To gain insights into virus-specific follicular CD8+ T cells, we determined the location and phenotype of follicular SIV-specific CD8+ T cells in situ, the local relationship of these cells to Foxp3+ cells, and the effects of CD8 depletion on levels of follicular SIV-producing cells in chronically SIV-infected rhesus macaques. We found that follicular SIV-specific CD8+ T cells were able to migrate throughout follicular areas, including germinal centers. Many expressed PD-1, indicating that they may have been exhausted. A small subset was in direct contact with and likely inhibited by Foxp3+ cells, and a few were themselves Foxp3+ In addition, subsets of follicular SIV-specific CD8+ T cells expressed low to medium levels of perforin, and subsets were activated and proliferating. Importantly, after CD8 depletion, the number of SIV-producing cells increased in B cell follicles and extrafollicular areas, suggesting that follicular and extrafollicular CD8+ T cells have a suppressive effect on SIV replication. Taken together, these results suggest that during chronic SIV infection, despite high levels of exhaustion and likely inhibition by Foxp3+ cells, a subset of follicular SIV-specific CD8+ T cells are functional and suppress viral replication in vivo These findings support HIV cure strategies that augment functional follicular virus-specific CD8+ T cells to enhance viral control. IMPORTANCE: HIV- and SIV-specific CD8+ T cells are typically largely excluded from lymphoid B cell follicles, where virus-producing cells are most highly concentrated, suggesting that B cell follicles are somewhat of an immunoprivileged site where virus-specific CD8+ T cells are not able to clear all follicular HIV- and SIV-producing cells. To gain insights into follicular CD8+ T cell function, we characterized follicular virus-specific CD8+ T cells in situ by using an SIV-infected rhesus macaque model of HIV. We found that subsets of follicular SIV-specific CD8+ T cells are able to migrate throughout the follicle, are likely inhibited by Foxp3+ cells, and are likely exhausted but that, nonetheless, subsets are likely functional, as they express markers consistent with effector function and show signs of suppressing viral replication in vivo These findings support HIV cure strategies that increase the frequency of functional follicular virus-specific CD8+ T cells.

Intrathecal urocortin I in the spinal cord as a murine model of stress hormone-induced musculoskeletal and tactile hyperalgesia.

Stress is antinociceptive in some models of pain, but enhances musculoskeletal nociceptive responses in mice and muscle pain in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. To test the hypothesis that urocortins are stress hormones that are sufficient to enhance tactile and musculoskeletal hyperalgesia, von Frey fibre sensitivity and grip force after injection of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), urocortin I and urocortin II were measured in mice. Urocortin I (a CRF1 and CRF2 receptor ligand) produced hyperalgesia in both assays when injected intrathecally (i.t.) but not intracerebroventricularly, and only at a large dose when injected peripherally, suggesting a spinal action. Morphine inhibited urocortin I-induced changes in nociceptive responses in a dose-related fashion, confirming that changes in behaviour reflect hyperalgesia rather than weakness. No tolerance developed to the effect of urocortin I (i.t.) when injected repeatedly, consistent with a potential to enhance pain chronically. Tactile hyperalgesia was inhibited by NBI-35965, a CRF1 receptor antagonist, but not astressin 2B, a CRF2 receptor antagonist. However, while urocortin I-induced decreases in grip force were not observed when co-administered i.t. with either NBI-35965 or astressin 2B, they were even more sensitive to inhibition by astressin, a non-selective CRF receptor antagonist. Together these data indicate that urocortin I acts at CRF receptors in the mouse spinal cord to elicit a reproducible and persistent tactile (von Frey) and musculoskeletal (grip force) hyperalgesia. Urocortin I-induced hyperalgesia may serve as a screen for drugs that alleviate painful conditions that are exacerbated by stress.

Depressive behavior in the forced swim test can be induced by TRPV1 receptor activity and is dependent on NMDA receptors.

Blocking, desensitizing, or knocking out transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptors decreases immobility in the forced swim test, a measure of depressive behavior. We questioned whether enhancing TRPV1 activity promotes immobility in a fashion that is prevented by antidepressants. To test this we activated heat-sensitive TRPV1 receptors in mice by water that is warmer than body temperature (41 °C) or a low dose of resiniferatoxin (RTX). Water at 41 °C elicited less immobility than cooler water (26 °C), indicating that thermoregulatory sites do not contribute to immobility. Although a desensitizing regimen of RTX (3-5 injections of 0.1 mg/kg s.c.) decreased immobility during swims at 26 °C, it did not during swims at 41 °C. In contrast, low dose of RTX (0.02 mg/kg s.c.) enhanced immobility, but only during swims at 41 °C. Thus, activation of TRPV1 receptors, endogenously or exogenously, enhances immobility and these sites are activated by cold rather than warmth. Two distinct types of antidepressants, amitriptyline (10mg/kg i.p.) and ketamine (50 mg/kg i.p.), each inhibited the increase in immobility induced by the low dose of RTX, verifying its mediation by TRPV1 sites. When desensitization was limited to central populations using intrathecal injections of RTX (0.25 µg/kg i.t.), immobility was attenuated at both temperatures and the increase in immobility produced by the low dose of RTX was inhibited. This demonstrates a role for central TRPV1 receptors in depressive behavior, activated by conditions (cold stress) distinct from those that activate TRPV1 receptors along thermosensory afferents (heat).

Mast cells accumulate in the anogenital region of somatosensory thalamic nuclei during estrus in female mice.

Mast cells are located in the mammalian thalamus where their numbers are sensitive to reproductive hormones. To evaluate whether differences between sexes and over the estrus cycle influence the nuclear distribution of mast cells in mice, we mounted a comprehensive analysis of their distribution in males compared to females and in females over the estrus cycle. Compared to males, mast cells were more numerous in the lateral intralaminar and posterior nuclei of females during estrus and in the ventral posterolateral (VPL) and medial geniculate nuclei during proestrus. During estrus, mast cells were especially concentrated in those regions within the VPL and posterior thalamic nuclei that receive somatosensory information from the anogenital region. Treatment of ovariectomized mice with estrogen increased the number and the percent of mast cells that were degranulated compared to that after ovariectomy alone, an effect that was most apparent in the lateral intralaminar, VPL and posterior nuclei. In estrogen-primed, ovariectomized females, progesterone delivered 5 h before tissue collection counteracted the effects of estrogen. Cromolyn, a mast cell stabilizer, injected centrally 1 h prior to and 24 h after estrogen in ovariectomized mice, prevented the increase in number of mast cells in the whole thalamus and in the intralaminar, VPL and posterior nuclei. This suggests that estrogen induces hyperplasia by a mechanism that involves mast cell degranulation. Based on the discrete anatomical location of mast cells in areas of somatosensory nuclei that receive anogenital input together with the temporal correspondence of these cells with estrus, mast cells are well situated to influence sensory input in females during mating.

Modulation of musculoskeletal hyperalgesia by brown adipose tissue activity in mice.

Cold exposure and a variety of types of mild stress increase pain in patients with painful disorders such as fibromyalgia syndrome. Acutely, stress induces thermogenesis by increasing sympathetic activation of beta-3 (ß3) adrenergic receptors in brown adipose tissue. Chronic stress leads to the hypertrophy of brown adipose, a phenomenon termed adaptive thermogenesis. Based on the innervation of skeletal muscle by collaterals of nerves projecting to brown adipose, we theorized an association between brown adipose tissue activity and musculoskeletal hyperalgesia and tested this hypothesis in mice. Exposure to a cold swim or injection of BRL37344 (ß3 adrenergic agonist) each enhanced musculoskeletal hyperalgesia, as indicated by morphine-sensitive decreases in grip force responses, whereas SR59230A (ß3 adrenergic antagonist) attenuated swim-induced hyperalgesia. Chemical ablation of interscapular brown adipose, using Rose Bengal, attenuated the development of hyperalgesia in response to either swim stress or BRL37344. In addition, elimination of the gene expressing uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), the enzyme responsible for thermogenesis, prevented musculoskeletal hyperalgesia in response to either a swim or BRL37344, as documented in UCP1-knockout (UCP1-KO) mice compared with wild-type controls. Together, these data provide a convergence of evidence suggesting that activation of brown adipose contributes to stress-induced musculoskeletal hyperalgesia.

Unilateral spinal nerve ligation leads to an asymmetrical distribution of mast cells in the thalamus of female but not male mice.

Mast cells are restricted to the leptomeninges and thalamus of healthy mice. These populations are increased by stress and highly sensitive to reproductive hormones. To examine the influence of nociception, a form of stress, on thalamic mast cells, we ligated the left fifth lumbar spinal nerve of male and female mice to induce hyperalgesia. Two, 7 and 14 days later, mice were killed and thalami examined histologically using toluidine blue stain. The total number of thalamic mast cells was not influenced by ligation of the spinal nerve compared to sham-operation in either female or male mice. However, in females, the percent of thalamic mast cells located on the side of the thalamus contralateral to the ligation was greater on days 2 and 7, coincident with mechanical hyperalgesia. At these times, areas in which mast cells were most dense contralateral to nerve-injury included the posterior (Po) and lateral geniculate (LG) nuclei compared to their symmetrical distribution in sham-operated mice. These data suggest that local nociceptive signals to each side of the thalamus rather than stress hormones influence the location of mast cells during the development of allodynia and hyperalgesia. In addition, both hyperalgesia and mast cell distribution induced by nerve-ligation differ in females compared to males, reflecting a novel neuroimmune response to pain within the CNS.

Chronic daily intrathecal injections of a large volume of fluid increase mast cells in the thalamus of mice.

Mast cells are found in the central nervous system (CNS) as well as in the periphery. In the brain of mice, they are localized primarily in the thalamus and meninges. Although their numbers increase in response to stress, the mediator of their recruitment is not known. During studies in which drugs were delivered intrathecally in a volume sufficiently large to distribute to the brain, we discovered that repeated daily injections of this large volume increased the number of mast cells in the thalamus. The increase was not due to changes in electrolyte composition of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as chronically administered artificial CSF produced similar effects. Repeated injections of even small volumes (2 mul) increased mast cells in the medial intralaminar (Med), ventral posterior (VP) and posterior (Po) nuclei. Increasing the volume injected daily to 20 mul increased mast cells in the lateral intralaminar (Lat), laterodorsal (LD), ventrolateral (VL) and lateral geniculate (LG) nuclei and further increased those in the lateral extension of the Po nucleus. Thus, small and large volumes augment distinct populations of mast cells. While stem cell factor (SCF) is abundant in the CNS and is chemotactic to mast cells in the periphery, thalamic mast cells in the rodent do not express c-kit, the SCF receptor, suggesting that this factor may not be responsible for the effect. Consistent with this, centrally injected SCF was incapable of increasing thalamic mast cell populations after either single or chronic (21 days) daily injections compared to the effect of saline alone. Although the mechanism is not known, repeated injections of a large volume of fluid dramatically increase mast cells in the CNS, a phenomenon that may be relevant to clinical conditions of increased CSF pressure or volume.

Tolerance develops to the effect of lipopolysaccharides on movement-evoked hyperalgesia when administered chronically by a systemic but not an intrathecal route.

Single exposures to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) produce deep tissue pain in humans and cutaneous hyperalgesia in rodents. While tolerance develops to many effects of LPS, sensitization to hyperalgesia is documented after a single injection. To determine the effect of long-term exposure to LPS, we explored the chronic effect of LPS on movement-evoked pain using a new assay based on grip force in mice. We found that a single systemic injection of LPS (i.p. or s.c.) induced a dose-related decrease in forelimb grip force responses beginning 6-8 h after injection and peaking between 9 and 24 h. The consequence of LPS is likely hyperalgesia rather than weakness as these decreases were rapidly attenuated by either 10 mg/kg of morphine i.p. or 10 microg of morphine injected intrathecally (i.t.). Complete tolerance to this hyperalgesia developed after repeated injections of LPS at doses of 0.9 mg/kg i.p. or 5 mg/kg s.c. Tolerance began after a single injection and was fully developed after as few as four injections of 5 mg/kg of LPS delivered s.c. The concentration of circulating LPS 5 h after a single parenteral injection was less in LPS-tolerant mice than naïve controls, suggesting that tolerance may result from a more efficient clearance of LPS from the circulation. Injected i.t., LPS also induced hyperalgesia, however, tolerance did not develop to multiple injections by this route. There was no cross-tolerance between s.c. and i.t. injections of LPS. These data indicate that decreases in grip force are a sensitive measure of LPS-induced movement-evoked hyperalgesia and that tolerance develops to parenteral but not central hyperalgesic effects of LPS.

Naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal increases the number and degranulation of mast cells in the thalamus of the mouse.

Naloxone-induced jumping in morphine-dependent mice is inhibited by cromolyn, a mast cell stabilizer, suggesting that this characteristic withdrawal behavior results from degranulation of mast cells. Because withdrawal is considered as a central phenomenon, degranulation of mast cells located within the CNS may influence aspects of opioid withdrawal. The present study evaluates histologically whether naloxone, injected into opioid dependent mice, induces degranulation of mast cells. Seventy-two hours after the s.c. implantation of a 75 mg morphine pellet, the number and degranulation of thalamic mast cells did not differ from those in placebo-implanted controls. However, two injections of 50 mg/kg of naloxone, 30 and 60 min before tissue collection, increased the number of degranulated mast cells compared to those in mice injected with saline. Analysis throughout the entire thalamus (90 40-micro sections) revealed increases in the total number of mast cells as well as the number that were degranulated, especially in sections 52-60, corresponding to Bregma -2.18 to 2.54. Here, mast cells were clustered in the IGL and VPL/VPM nuclei, and redistributed from the ventromedial to the dorsolateral aspects of the Po and PF nuclei during withdrawal. Degranulation was also greater throughout the LD, LP nuclei during withdrawal. These data reveal a novel neuroimmune reaction to opioid withdrawal in the CNS.

After a cold conditioning swim, UCP2-deficient mice are more able to defend against the cold than wild type mice.

Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is widely distributed throughout the body including the brain, adipose tissue and skeletal muscles. In contrast to UCP1, UCP2 does not influence resting body temperature and UCP2-deficient (-/-) mice have normal thermoregulatory responses to a single exposure to cold ambient temperatures. Instead, UCP2-deficient mice are more anxious, exhibit anhedonia and have higher circulating corticosterone than wild type mice. To test the possible role of UCP2 in depressive behavior we exposed UCP2-deficient and wild type mice to a cold (26°C) forced swim and simultaneously measured rectal temperatures during and after the swim. The time that UCP2-deficient mice spent immobile did not differ from wild type mice and all mice floated more on day 2. However, UCP2-deficient mice were more able to defend against the decrease in body temperature during a second daily swim at 26°C than wild type mice (area under the curve for wild type mice: 247.0±6.4; for UCP2-deficient mice: 284.4±3.8, P<0.0001, Student's t test). The improved thermoregulation of wild type mice during a second swim at 26°C correlated with their greater immobility whereas defense against the warmth during a swim at 41°C correlated better with greater immobility of UCP2-deficient mice. Together these data indicate that while the lack of UCP2 has no acute effect on body temperature, UCP2 may inhibit rapid improvements in defense against cold, in contrast to UCP1, whose main function is to promote thermogenesis.

Forced swim-induced musculoskeletal hyperalgesia is mediated by CRF2 receptors but not by TRPV1 receptors.

The exacerbation of musculoskeletal pain by stress in humans is modeled by the musculoskeletal hyperalgesia in rodents following a forced swim. We hypothesized that stress-sensitive corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) receptors and transient receptor vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptors are responsible for the swim stress-induced musculoskeletal hyperalgesia. We confirmed that a cold swim (26 °C) caused a transient, morphine-sensitive decrease in grip force responses reflecting musculoskeletal hyperalgesia in mice. Pretreatment with the CRF2 receptor antagonist astressin 2B, but not the CRF1 receptor antagonist NBI-35965, attenuated this hyperalgesia. Desensitizing the TRPV1 receptor centrally or peripherally using desensitizing doses of resiniferatoxin (RTX) failed to prevent the musculoskeletal hyperalgesia produced by cold swim. SB-366791, a TRPV1 antagonist, also failed to influence swim-induced hyperalgesia. Together these data indicate that swim stress-induced musculoskeletal hyperalgesia is mediated, in part, by CRF2 receptors but is independent of the TRPV1 receptor.

Resiniferatoxin (RTX) causes a uniquely protracted musculoskeletal hyperalgesia in mice by activation of TRPV1 receptors.

UNLABELLED: Inactivation of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) receptors is one approach to analgesic drug development. However, TRPV1 receptors exert different effects on each modality of pain. Because muscle pain is clinically important, we compared the effect of TRPV1 ligands on musculoskeletal nociception to that on thermal and tactile nociception. Injected parenterally, capsaicin had no effect on von Frey fiber responses (tactile) but induced a transient hypothermia and hyperalgesia in both the tail flick (thermal) and grip force (musculoskeletal) assays, presumably by its agonistic action at TRPV1 sites. In contrast, resiniferatoxin (RTX) produced a chronic (>58 days) thermal antinociception, consistent with its reported ability to desensitize TRPV1 sites. In the same mice, RTX produced a transient hypothermia (7 hours) and a protracted (28-day) musculoskeletal hyperalgesia in spite of a 35.5% reduction in TRPV1 receptor immunoreactivity in muscle afferents. Once musculoskeletal hyperalgesia subsided, mice were tolerant to the hyperalgesic effects of either capsaicin or RTX whereas tolerance to hypothermia did not develop until after 3 injections. Musculoskeletal hyperalgesia was prevented but not reversed by SB-366791, a TRPV1 antagonist, indicating that TRPV1 receptors initiate but do not maintain hyperalgesia. Injected intrathecally, RTX produced only a brief musculoskeletal hyperalgesia (2 days), after which mice were tolerant to this effect. PERSPECTIVE: The effect of TRPV1 receptors varies depending on modality and tissue type, such that RTX causes thermal antinociception, musculoskeletal hyperalgesia, and no effect on tactile nociception in healthy mice. Spinal TRPV1 receptors are a potential target for pain relief as they induce only a short musculoskeletal hyperalgesia followed by desensitization.

Spontaneous locomotor activity correlates with the degranulation of mast cells in the meninges rather than in the thalamus: disruptive effect of cocaine.

Mast cells are located in the central nervous system (CNS) of many mammals and stress induces their degranulation. We postulated that mast cells are associated with wakefulness and stimulatory tone in the CNS, as reflected by spontaneous motor activity. Because stress also precipitates drug-seeking behavior in cocaine addicts, we also postulated that cocaine manifests its effects through this relationship. We investigated the influence of single and repeated injections of cocaine on circulating corticosterone, motor activity and degranulation of mast cells in both the thalamus and meninges of mice. Mice were subjected to 5 consecutive days of cocaine or saline followed by a single injection of cocaine or saline 11 days later. Spontaneous locomotor activity was measure for 1h after the final injection before death. Neither a single injection nor prior treatment with cocaine increased motor activity compared to saline-injected controls, however, repeated administration of cocaine induced a significant sensitization to its behavioral effect when delivered 11 days later. In mice that received only saline, motor activity correlated positively with mast cell degranulation in the meninges but not in the thalamus. Cocaine, regardless of the treatment schedule, disrupted this correlation. The concentration of corticosterone did not differ amongst groups and did not correlate with either behavior or mast cell parameters in any group. The correlation between behavioral activity and the mast cell degranulation in the meninges suggests that these parameters are linked. The disruptive effect of cocaine on this relationship indicates a role downstream from mast cells in the regulation of motor activity.

Movement-evoked hyperalgesia induced by lipopolysaccharides is not suppressed by glucocorticoids.

Systemic exposure to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) produces a variety of effects, including movement-evoked hyperalgesia that can be measured using the grip force assay in mice. Because both lethality and enhanced sensitivity to cutaneous pain following exposure to endotoxins have each been attributed to inflammatory mediators, we explored the possibility that LPS-induced movement-evoked hyperalgesia is also sensitive to manipulations of glucocorticoids that regulate these other LPS responses. We found that the hyperalgesic effect of LPS (5mg/kg s.c.) in mice that were adrenalectomized did not differ from that in control mice that were sham operated, even though mortality after LPS was potentiated by adrenalectomy. The development of tolerance to the movement-evoked hyperalgesic effect of LPS also did not differ between adrenalectomized and sham-operated control mice. In addition, mifepristone (25mg/kg s.c.), a glucocorticoid antagonist, did not attenuate the hyperalgesic effect of LPS (2mg/kg s.c.), yet this dose of mifepristone was sufficient to enhance the incidence of lethality induced by LPS. Enhancement of glucocorticoid activity by two injections of dexamethasone (1mg/kg s.c.) had no effect on the degree of hyperalgesia in mice injected with LPS (5mg/kg s.c.), yet this dose of dexamethasone was sufficient to attenuate the incidence of mortality induced by LPS in adrenalectomized mice. Finally, morphine (10mg/kg i.p.) reversed the decrease in grip force caused by LPS (5mg/kg i.p.), supporting the interpretation that decreases in grip force produced by LPS reflect muscle hyperalgesia that is not sensitive to glucocorticoids.

Thrombin inhibits NMDA-mediated nociceptive activity in the mouse: possible mediation by endothelin.

The CNS expresses many components of an extracellular protease signalling system, including the protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) whose tethered ligand is generated by thrombin. Activation of PAR-1 potentiates NMDA receptor activity in hippocampal neurons. Because NMDA activity mediates hyperalgesia, we tested the hypothesis that PAR-1 receptors also regulate pain processing. In contrast to the potentiating effect of thrombin in the hippocampus, NMDA-induced behaviours and the transient mechanical hyperalgesia (von Frey fibres) induced by intrathecally injected NMDA in mice were inhibited by thrombin in a dose-related fashion. This anti-hyperalgesic effect was mimicked by SFLLRN, the natural ligand at PAR-1 binding sites, but not SLIGRL-amide, a PAR-2 agonist. The effects of SFLLRN were less potent and shorter in duration than that of thrombin, consistent with its more transient effect on PAR-1 sites. Both thrombin and SFLLRN inhibited acetic acid-induced abdominal stretch (writhing) behaviours, which were also sensitive to NMDA antagonism, but not hot plate or tail flick latencies, which were insensitive to NMDA antagonists. TFLLR-amide, a selective ligand for PAR-1 sites, mimicked the effects of thrombin while RLLFT-amide, an inactive, reverse peptide sequence, did not. In addition, the effect of TFLLR-amide was prevented by RWJ-56110, a PAR-1 antagonist. Thrombin and TFLLR-amide produced no oedema (Evans Blue extravasation) in the spinal cord that would account for these effects. Based on the reported ability of thrombin to mobilize endothelin-1 from astrocytes, we tested the role of this compound in thrombin's activity. BQ123, an endothelin A receptor antagonist, prevented thrombin's inhibition of writhing and NMDA-induced behaviours while BQ788, an endothelin B receptor antagonist, did not. Thus, activation of PAR-1 sites by thrombin in the CNS appears to inhibit NMDA-mediated nociception by a pathway involving endothelin type A receptors.

Upregulation of neurokinin-1 receptor expression in rat spinal cord by an N-terminal metabolite of substance P.

Chronic inflammatory conditions are associated with an upregulation of both substance P (SP) and neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptors in the dorsal spinal cord. These receptors have been implicated in hyperalgesia as well as stress-induced analgesia. On the basis of the release of SP during chronic pain, and its rapid metabolism, we tested the hypothesis that SP metabolites regulate the synthesis of either SP or NK-1 receptors in the spinal cord. We measured expression of preprotachykinin mRNA and NK-1 receptor mRNA following intrathecally administered substance P(1-7) (SP1-7), the major metabolite of SP in rat, and following capsaicin, a compound known to induce release of endogenous SP. SP(1-7) and capsaicin each increased NK-1 receptor mRNA in the spinal cord (6 h) followed by an increase in NK-1 receptor-immunoreactivity (24 h and 1 week). D-SP(1-7), a D-isomer and antagonist of SP(1-7), did not mimic the effect of SP(1-7), indicating stereoselectivity. Instead, D-SP(1-7) prevented the upregulation of NK-1 receptor immunoreactivity that was induced by capsaicin injected intrathecally, suggesting that the effect of capsaicin is also mediated by SP N-terminal metabolites. In contrast, the decrease in SP synthesis produced by capsaicin was not dependent on SP metabolites as SP(1-7) failed to decrease either preprotachykinin mRNA content in dorsal root ganglia (6 h) or SP immunoreactivity in the lumbar spinal cord (24 h and 1 week). In addition, the effects of capsaicin on SP synthesis were not prevented by D-SP(1-7). Thus, SP metabolites, at times and doses that are antinociceptive, appear to enhance SP-mediated signal transduction by upregulating NK-1 receptor expression without affecting SP synthesis.