Stabilization of V1 interneuron-motor neuron connectivity ameliorates motor phenotype in a mouse model of ALS.

Loss of connectivity between spinal V1 inhibitory interneurons and motor neurons is found early in disease in the SOD1G93A mice. Such changes in premotor inputs can contribute to homeostatic imbalance of motor neurons. Here, we show that the Extended Synaptotagmin 1 (Esyt1) presynaptic organizer is downregulated in V1 interneurons. V1 restricted overexpression of Esyt1 rescues inhibitory synapses, increases motor neuron survival, and ameliorates motor phenotypes. Two gene therapy approaches overexpressing ESYT1 were investigated; one for local intraspinal delivery, and the other for systemic administration using an AAV-PHP.eB vector delivered intravenously. Improvement of motor functions is observed in both approaches, however systemic administration appears to significantly reduce onset of motor impairment in the SOD1G93A mice in absence of side effects. Altogether, we show that stabilization of V1 synapses by ESYT1 overexpression has the potential to improve motor functions in ALS, demonstrating that interneurons can be a target to attenuate ALS symptoms.

Coding variants identified in patients with diabetes alter PICK1 BAR domain function in insulin granule biogenesis.

Bin/amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domains are positively charged crescent-shaped modules that mediate curvature of negatively charged lipid membranes during remodeling processes. The BAR domain proteins PICK1, ICA69, and the arfaptins have recently been demonstrated to coordinate the budding and formation of immature secretory granules (ISGs) at the trans-Golgi network. Here, we identify 4 coding variants in the PICK1 gene from a whole-exome screening of Danish patients with diabetes that each involve a change in positively charged residues in the PICK1 BAR domain. All 4 coding variants failed to rescue insulin content in INS-1E cells upon knock down of endogenous PICK1. Moreover, 2 variants showed dominant-negative properties. In vitro assays addressing BAR domain function suggested that the coding variants compromised BAR domain function but increased the capacity to cause fission of liposomes. Live confocal microscopy and super-resolution microscopy further revealed that PICK1 resides transiently on ISGs before egress via vesicular budding events. Interestingly, this egress of PICK1 was accelerated in the coding variants. We propose that PICK1 assists in or complements the removal of excess membrane and generic membrane trafficking proteins, and possibly also insulin, from ISGs during the maturation process; and that the coding variants may cause premature budding, possibly explaining their dominant-negative function.

A Novel Peripheral Action of PICK1 Inhibition in Inflammatory Pain.

Chronic pain is a major healthcare problem that impacts one in five adults across the globe. Current treatment is compromised by dose-limiting side effects including drowsiness, apathy, fatigue, loss of ability to function socially and professionally as well as a high abuse liability. Most of these side effects result from broad suppression of excitatory neurotransmission. Chronic pain states are associated with specific changes in the efficacy of synaptic transmission in the pain pathways leading to amplification of non-noxious stimuli and spontaneous pain. Consequently, a reversal of these specific changes may pave the way for the development of efficacious pain treatment with fewer side effects. We have recently described a high-affinity, bivalent peptide TAT-P4-(C5)2, enabling efficient targeting of the neuronal scaffold protein, PICK1, a key protein in mediating chronic pain sensitization. In the present study, we demonstrate that in an inflammatory pain model, the peptide does not only relieve mechanical allodynia by targeting PICK1 involved in central sensitization, but also by peripheral actions in the inflamed paw. Further, we assess the effects of the peptide on novelty-induced locomotor activity, abuse liability, and memory performance without identifying significant side effects.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of cannabinoids, cannabis-based medicines, and endocannabinoid system modulators tested for antinociceptive effects in animal models of injury-related or pathological persistent pain.

ABSTRACT: We report a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that assessed the antinociceptive efficacy of cannabinoids, cannabis-based medicines, and endocannabinoid system modulators on pain-associated behavioural outcomes in animal models of pathological or injury-related persistent pain. In April 2019, we systematically searched 3 online databases and used crowd science and machine learning to identify studies for inclusion. We calculated a standardised mean difference effect size for each comparison and performed a random-effects meta-analysis. We assessed the impact of study design characteristics and reporting of mitigations to reduce the risk of bias. We meta-analysed 374 studies in which 171 interventions were assessed for antinociceptive efficacy in rodent models of pathological or injury-related pain. Most experiments were conducted in male animals (86%). Antinociceptive efficacy was most frequently measured by attenuation of hypersensitivity to evoked limb withdrawal. Selective cannabinoid type 1, cannabinoid type 2, nonselective cannabinoid receptor agonists (including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha agonists (predominantly palmitoylethanolamide) significantly attenuated pain-associated behaviours in a broad range of inflammatory and neuropathic pain models. Fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors, monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitors, and cannabidiol significantly attenuated pain-associated behaviours in neuropathic pain models but yielded mixed results in inflammatory pain models. The reporting of criteria to reduce the risk of bias was low; therefore, the studies have an unclear risk of bias. The value of future studies could be enhanced by improving the reporting of methodological criteria, the clinical relevance of the models, and behavioural assessments. Notwithstanding, the evidence supports the hypothesis of cannabinoid-induced analgesia.

A high-affinity, bivalent PDZ domain inhibitor complexes PICK1 to alleviate neuropathic pain.

Maladaptive plasticity involving increased expression of AMPA-type glutamate receptors is involved in several pathologies, including neuropathic pain, but direct inhibition of AMPARs is associated with side effects. As an alternative, we developed a cell-permeable, high-affinity (~2 nM) peptide inhibitor, Tat-P4 -(C5)2 , of the PDZ domain protein PICK1 to interfere with increased AMPAR expression. The affinity is obtained partly from the Tat peptide and partly from the bivalency of the PDZ motif, engaging PDZ domains from two separate PICK1 dimers to form a tetrameric complex. Bivalent Tat-P4 -(C5)2 disrupts PICK1 interaction with membrane proteins on supported cell membrane sheets and reduce the interaction of AMPARs with PICK1 and AMPA-receptor surface expression in vivo. Moreover, Tat-P4 -(C5)2 administration reduces spinal cord transmission and alleviates mechanical hyperalgesia in the spared nerve injury model of neuropathic pain. Taken together, our data reveal Tat-P4 -(C5)2 as a novel promising lead for neuropathic pain treatment and expand the therapeutic potential of bivalent inhibitors to non-tandem protein-protein interaction domains.