No description available.

The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor GPER/GPER1, also known as GPR30, was originally cloned as an orphan receptor and later shown to be specifically activated by 17-ß-estradiol. This has led to its classification as an estrogen receptor and expanded the perspective on the mechanisms underlying the rapid estrogenic effects reported over the years. GPER is strongly expressed in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues and appears to be involved in a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes. Estrogens are known to alter the processing of nociceptive sensory information and analgesic responses in the central nervous system. Both analgesic and pro-nociceptive effects of estrogens have been reported. Some pro-algesic estrogenic responses have a short latency, suggesting a non-genomic mechanism of action. Immunohistochemical studies in rodents prove the existence of GPER in pain-relevant areas of the nervous system such as dorsal root ganglia, superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord, periaqueductal gray (PAG), amygdala, trigeminal sensory nucleus and thalamus. In the periphery, activation of GPER results in pro-nociceptive effects. However, GPER involvement in pain processing at central levels is largely unexplored. Thus, the work presented in this thesis was aimed at investigating whether GPER modulates nociception at spinal and supraspinal sites. The behavioral response to GPER activation in the spinal cord and PAG was evaluated in an acute grooming test (scratching, biting and licking behavior) and in the hot plate test, respectively. Intrathecal challenge of mice with the GPER agonist G-1 (0.1-1 nmol) induced a dose-dependent increase in pain-related behaviors, that was abolished by pre-treatment with the GPER antagonist G15 (1-10 nmol), confirming GPER specificity of the response. Likewise, intra-PAG microinjection of G-1 (10-100 pmol) to rats reduced the nociceptive threshold in the hot plate test, an effect that was G15 sensitive. To obtain further insight on the mechanisms involved in the behavioral effects observed in whole animals, we tested the effect of GPER ligands on neuronal membrane potential, intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. The membrane depolarization and the increases in [Ca2+]i and ROS levels are markers of neuronal activation, underlying pain sensitization in the spinal cord and pain facilitation in the PAG. Electrophysiological recordings from superficial dorsal horn and lateral PAG neurons indicate neuronal depolarization upon G-1 application, an effect that was fully prevented by G15 pre-treatment. Both cultured spinal neurons and cultured PAG neurons responded to G-1 administration by elevating [Ca2+]i and mitochondrial and cytosolic ROS levels. In the presence of G15, G-1 did not elicit the calcium and ROS responses. Collectively, these results demonstrate that GPER modulates both the ascending and descending pain pathways to increase nociception via cytosolic calcium elevation and ROS accumulation in spinal and PAG neurons, respectively. These findings broaden the current knowledge on GPER involvement in physiology and pathophysiology, providing the first evidence of its pro-nociceptive effects at central levels and characterizing some of the mechanisms involved. Moreover, we show for the first time ROS accumulation downstream of GPER activation, extending the current understanding of GPER signaling. / Pharmacology

Menschen nehmen Tausende von Stoffen als bitter wahr. Die chemische Struktur der verschiedenen Bitterstoffe ist sehr vielfältig: Sie reicht von kleinen Molekülen wie Kaliumchlorid oder Harnstoff, bis zu sehr komplexen organischen Verbindungen. Die Größe der einzigen bekannten menschlichen Familie von Bitterrezeptoren (TAS2Rs) wurde auf nur ca. 80-120 Mitglieder geschätzt. In Anbetracht der hohen Zahl und Komplexität der Bitterstoffe erscheint die Zahl von Rezeptoren als sehr gering. Dies führt natürlich zu einer Reihe von Fragen: Wie viele Mitglieder hat die menschliche TAS2R-Genfamilie? Wie viele verschiedene Substanzen können denselben Rezeptor aktivieren? Scheint die Zahl der TAS2R-Rezeptoren ausreichend, alle Bitterstoffe wahrnehmen zu können oder muss es noch andere Bitterrezeptorfamilien geben? Diese Fragen zu beantworten, ist das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit. <br /> <br /> Hier durchgeführte Analysen des menschlichen Genomprojektes zeigen, dass Menschen ca. 25 TAS2R-Rezeptoren besitzt, die eine sehr divergente Aminosäurestruktur aufweisen. Diese Rezeptoren wurden in eine neu entwickelte Expressionskassette kloniert, die den Transport des Rezeptors an die Zelloberfläche ermöglicht. Um Liganden für die menschliche TAS2R-Rezeptoren zu identifizieren, wurden die Rezeptoren in HEK293 Zellen exprimiert und mit verschiedenen Bitterstoffen stimuliert. Der Nachweis der Rezeptoraktivierung erfolgte durch Calcium-Imaging. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass hTAS2R16 der menschliche Rezeptor zur Wahrnehmung von Salicin und verwandten bitteren Pyranosiden ist. So wird hTAS2R16 in HEK293 Zellen durch Salicin und chemisch verwandte Substanzen aktiviert. Ein Vergleich der in diesem Messsystem erhaltenen Daten mit psychophysikalisch ermittelten Geschmackswahrnehmungen beim Menschen, ergab eine hohe Übereinstimmung. Die Ergebnisse deuten auch darauf hin, dass die Desensitiverung einzelner Rezeptoren die Ursache für die Adaption des Bittergeschmacks ist. Der Nachweis der Expression des Rezeptors in menschlichen Geschmackspapillen, sowie die festgestellte Assoziation des G/A Polymorpphismus an Position 665 des hTAS2R16 Gens mit einer reduzierten Salicinwahrnehmung, sind weitere unabhängige Beweise für diese These. Ein anderer menschlicher Rezeptor, hTAS2R10, wird durch die Bitterstoffe Strychnin, Brucin und Denatonium aktiviert. Dies sowie die Tatsache, dass die zur Aktivierung benutzten Konzentrationen eine sinnvolle Korrelation zu dem menschlichen Geschmacksschwellwert von Strychnin zeigen, sind starke Hinweise, dass hTAS2R10 der menschliche Rezeptor zur Wahrnehmung von Strychnin und verwandten Substanzen ist. <br /> <br /> Die vorliegenden Daten zeigen eindeutig, dass die TAS2R-Rezeptoren auch beim Menschen Bitterrezeptoren darstellen. Sowohl hTAS2R16, als auch hTAS2R10 werden durch ein Spektrum strukturell sehr unterschiedlicher Bitterstoffe aktiviert. Falls die anderen Mitglieder der TAS2R-Familie ebenfalls dieses Verhalten zeigen, wäre es möglich, dass die nur ca. 25 Mitglieder umfassende TAS2R-Rezeptorfamilie des Menschen tatsächlich zur Wahrnehmung aller Bitterstoffe ausreicht. / Bitter taste generally is aversive and protects vertebrates from ingestion of toxic substances, but bitter tastants also contribute to the enjoyment and palatability of food influencing human nutritional habits. Although bitter taste has been extensively studied, receptor mechanisms are still poorly understood. Anatomic, functional and genetic evidence from rodents suggested, however, that the T2R genes encode a family of bitter receptors while definite proof is missing in humans 6. We here report that the hT2R16 receptor is present in vallate papilla taste buds of the human tongue and activated by bitter b-glucopyranosides. These phytonutrients did not activate any other human T2R and showed similar concentration-response relations and cross-desensitization in hT2R16 expressing cells and psychobiological experiments. hT2R16 is broadly tuned. It binds bitter compounds that share only a b-glycosidic bond and a glucose residue. The broad tuning of T2Rs could explain how a limited number of receptors permits the perception and coding of numerous and different bitter substances. Together our data identify the hT2R16 as a broadly tuned, genuine human bitter receptor for b-glucopyranosides.

No description available.

Treatments for chronic pain are inadequate, and new options are needed. Nonpharmaceutical approaches are especially attractive with many potential advantages including safety. Light therapy has been suggested to be beneficial in certain medical conditions such as depression, but this approach remains to be explored for modulation of pain. We investigated the effects of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), in the visible spectrum, on acute sensory thresholds in naive rats as well as in experimental neuropathic pain. Rats receiving green LED light (wavelength 525 nm, 8 h/d) showed significantly increased paw withdrawal latency to a noxious thermal stimulus; this antinociceptive effect persisted for 4 days after termination of last exposure without development of tolerance. No apparent side effects were noted and motor performance was not impaired. Despite LED exposure, opaque contact lenses prevented antinociception. Rats fitted with green contact lenses exposed to room light exhibited antinociception arguing for a role of the visual system. Antinociception was not due to stress/anxiety but likely due to increased enkephalins expression in the spinal cord. Naloxone reversed the antinociception, suggesting involvement of central opioid circuits. Rostral ventromedial medulla inactivation prevented expression of light-induced antinociception suggesting engagement of descending inhibition. Green LED exposure also reversed thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in rats with spinal nerve ligation. Pharmacological and proteomic profiling of dorsal root ganglion neurons from green LED-exposed rats identified changes in calcium channel activity, including a decrease in the N-type (CaV2.2) channel, a primary analgesic target. Thus, green LED therapy may represent a novel, nonpharmacological approach for managing pain.

Résumé : La variation de la [Ca2+] intracellulaire participe à nombreux de processus biologiques. Les cellules eucaryotes expriment à la membrane plasmique une variété de canaux par lesquelles le calcium peut entrer. Dans les cellules non excitables, deux mécanismes principaux permettent l'entrée calcique; l'entrée capacitative de Ca2+ via Orai1 (SOCE) et l'entrée calcique activé par un récepteur (ROCE). Plusieurs protéines clés sont impliquées dans la régulation de ces voies d'entrée calcique, ainsi que dans l'homéostasie calcique. TRPC6 est un canal calcique impliquée dans l'entrée calcique dans les cellules à la suite d’une stimulation d’un récepteur hormonal. TRPC6 transloque à la membrane cellulaire et il y demeure jusqu'à ce que le stimulus soit retiré. Les mécanismes qui régulent le trafic et l'activation de TRPC6 sont cependant encore peu connus. Des découvertes récentes ont démontré qu'il y a un rôle potentiel de Rho kinase dans l'activité de TRPC6. Rho kinase est activée par la petite protéine G RhoA qui peut être activée par les protéines G hétérotrimériques Gα12 et Gα13. En plus de Gα12 et Gα13, les protéines de désensibilisation des GPCR β -arrestin 1 et / ou β-arrestin 2 peuvent aussi activer RhoA. Le but de notre étude est d'examiner la participation des protéines Gα12/13 et β-arrestin 1/ β-arrestin 2 dans l'activation de TRPC6 et de la protéine Orai1. Nous avons utilisé des ARN interférant (siRNA) spécifiques pour induire une réduction de l'expression de Gα12/13 ou β-arrestin 1/β-arrestin 2. La conséquence sur l’entrée de Ca2+ dans les cellules a été ensuite déterminée par imagerie calcique en temps réel suite à une stimulation par la vasopressine (AVP), thapsigargin ou carbachol. Nous avons donc identifié que dans des cellules A7r5, une lignée cellulaire de musculaires lisses vasculaires où le canal TRPC6 exprimé de manière endogène, la diminution de l’expression des protéines Gα12 ou Gα13 ne semble pas modifier l’entrée Ca2+ induit par l’AVP par rapport aux cellules témoins. D'autre part, la diminution de l’expression β-arrestin 1 ou β-arrestin 2 dans des cellules HEK 293 ainsi que des cellules HEK 293 exprimant de façon stable TRPC6 (cellules T6.11) ont augmenté l’entrée de Ca2+ induite par thapsigargin, un activateur pharmacologique de SOCE. Des études de co-immunoprécipitation démontrent une interaction entre la β-arrestin 1 et STIM1, alors qu'aucune interaction n'a été observée entre les β-arrestin 1 et Orai1. Nous avons de plus montré à l'aide d'analyse en microscopie confocale que la diminution de l’expression β-arrestin 1 ou β-arrestin 2 n’influence pas la quantité d’Orai1 à la périphérie cellulaire. Cependant, des résultats préliminaires indiquent que la diminution de l’expression β-arrestin 1 ou β-arrestin 2 augmente la quantité de STIM1-YFP dans l'espace intracellulaire et diminue sa quantité à la périphérie cellulaire. En conclusion, nous avons montré que les β-arrestin 1 ou β-arrestin 2 sont impliquées dans l'entrée capacitative de Ca2+ (SOCE) et contrôlent la quantité de STIM1 dans le réticulum endoplasmique. / Abstract : In an organism, intracellular [Ca2+] takes part in many biological processes. Eukaryotic cells express a variety of channels in the plasma membrane through which calcium can enter. In non-excitable cells, two main mechanisms allow calcium entry; the store-operated calcium entry via Orai1 (SOCE) and receptor-operated calcium entry (ROCE). Several key proteins are involved in the regulation of these calcium entry pathways as well as in calcium homeostasis. TRPC6 is a calcium channel implied in calcium entrance into the cells following hormonal stimulation and translocates to the plasma membrane. TRPC6 channel appear to the plasma membrane until the stimulus is present. Although, the mechanisms that regulate the trafficking and activation of TRPC6 are still little known. Recent findings have demonstrated that there is a potential role of Rho kinase in activity of TRPC6. Rho kinase is activated by the small G protein RhoA that itself can be activated by the heterotrimeric G proteins Gα12 and Gα13. In addition to Gα12 and Gα13 proteins, cytosolic GPCR desensitizing proteins β-arrestin 1 and/or β-arrestin 2 could also activate RhoA. The purpose of our study is to investigate the involvement of the proteins Gα12/13 and β-arrestin 1/β-arrestin 2 in the activation of TRPC6 and Orai1 protein. We used siRNA specific to Gα12/13 or β-arrestin 1/β-arrestin 2 to knockdown their endogenous expression. Then, calcium imaging in real time was performed in order to see the quantity of calcium entered into the cell following stimulation by vasopressin (AVP), thapsigargin, or carbachol. We hence identified that in A7r5 cell, vascular smooth muscle cell where TRPC6 channel expressed endogenously; reduced expression of Gα12 or Gα13 proteins does not seem to modify the AVP-induced Ca2+ entry compared to control cells. On the other hand, calcium imaging experiment in knocked down β-arrestin 1 or β-arrestin 2 in HEK 293 cells as well as HEK 293 cells stably transfected with TRPC6 (T6.11 cells) resulted in an increased thapsigargin-induced calcium entry. The co-immunoprecipitation studies demonstrate an interaction between β-arrestin 1 and STIM1, a calcium sensor in SOCE influx, while no interaction was observed between β-arrestin 1 and Orai1.We moreover showed by confocal microscopy that reduced expression of β-arrestin 1/ β-arrestin 2 does not influence the quantity of Orai1 at the cell periphery. Preliminary results showed that reduced expression of β-arrestin 1 or β-arrestin 2 increases the quantity of STIM1-YFP in the intracellular space and less it’s in peri-membrane space. In conclusion, we showed that β-arrestin 1 or β-arrestin 2 are involved in the store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) and control the quantity of STIM1 in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Chronic pain affects the life of millions of people. Current treatments have deleterious side effects. We have advanced a strategy for targeting protein interactions which regulate the N-type voltage-gated calcium (CaV2.2) channel as an alternative to direct channel block. Peptides uncoupling CaV2.2 interactions with the axonal collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) were antinociceptive without effects on memory, depression, and reward/addiction. A search for small molecules that could recapitulate uncoupling of the CaV2.2-CRMP2 interaction identified (S)-lacosamide [(S)-LCM], the inactive enantiomer of the Food and Drug Administration-approved antiepileptic drug (R)-lacosamide [(R)-LCM, Vimpat]. We show that (S)-LCM, but not (R)-LCM, inhibits CRMP2 phosphorylation by cyclin dependent kinase 5, a step necessary for driving CaV2.2 activity, in sensory neurons. (S)-lacosamide inhibited depolarization-induced Ca influx with a low micromolar IC50. Voltage-clamp electrophysiology experiments demonstrated a commensurate reduction in Ca currents in sensory neurons after an acute application of (S)-LCM. Using constellation pharmacology, a recently described high content phenotypic screening platform for functional fingerprinting of neurons that uses subtype-selective pharmacological agents to elucidate cell-specific combinations (constellations) of key signaling proteins that define specific cell types, we investigated if (S)-LCM preferentially acts on certain types of neurons. (S)-lacosamide decreased the dorsal root ganglion neurons responding to mustard oil, and increased the number of cells responding to menthol. Finally, (S)-LCM reversed thermal hypersensitivity and mechanical allodynia in a model of postoperative pain, and 2 models of neuropathic pain. Thus, using (S)-LCM to inhibit CRMP2 phosphorylation is a novel and efficient strategy to treat pain, which works by targeting specific sensory neuron populations.

No description available.

Les neurones GABAergiques sont une composante majeure des réseaux neuronaux corticaux. Au cours du développement, les neurones GABAergiques pionniers générés aux stades les plus précoces de l’embryogénèse forment une sous-population de neurones « hubs ». Cependant, leurs propriétés et leurs fonctions à l'âge adulte restent inconnus. En combinant différentes techniques, nous montrons que ces neurones pionniers ont également une fonction « hub » dans la région CA1 en développement in vitro et qu’ils maintiennent une forte connectivité fonctionnelle pendant les périodes de veille calme chez la souris adulte in vivo. Ces neurones, peu actifs de façon spontanée chez l’adulte, sont préférentiellement recrutés pendant les activités calciques synchrones souvent associées aux oscillations de type « SWRs ». Ceci est compatible avec leur faible excitabilité intrinsèque, révélée par des enregistrements en courant-imposé. L’étude des connexions synaptiques afférentes des neurones pionniers de CA1 adulte, par optogénétique, révèle un schéma de connectivité remarquable avec des entrées synaptiques GABAergiques issues du septum et la quasi-absence d’entrées thalamiques. Localement, ces neurones reçoivent moins de courants postsynaptiques GABAergiques, témoignant d’une intégration différentielle dans le réseau GABAergique inhibiteur. Enfin, nous montrons qu’une majorité significative de ces neurones pionniers appartiennent à la famille des neurones à projection longue distance. En conclusion, nous montrons que les neurones GABAergiques pionniers sont prédéterminés à occuper une place remarquable dans l’organisation fonctionnelle et structurale de l’hippocampe tout au long de leur vie. / The remarkable diversity of cortical GABAergic neurons is rooted, at least in part, in their embryonic origins. Adding to the spatial control of interneuron specification is a temporal schedule that has significant impact on their fate. In the CA3 region of the hippocampus, GABAergic cells born the earliest (ebGABA) form a sparse subpopulation acting as ‘hubs’ during development and surviving until adulthood. However, their properties and function in adulthood remain elusive. Using a combination of techniques, we demonstrate that ebGABA neurons also operate as “hubs” in the developing CA1 region in vitro and that they seem to maintain such remarkable functional connectivity into adulthood as observed during quiet rest in vivo. EbGABA display a lower spontaneous activity rate, as expected from their lower intrinsic excitability and are preferentially recruited during the synchronous calcium events previously shown to be associated with SWRs. EbGABA also display a remarkable synaptic connectivity scheme as they receive long-range GABAergic septal inputs but are almost excluded from thalamic afferents. Locally, they receive fewer spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents, indicating a particular integration into local GABAergic circuits. Moreover, using combinatorial immunohistochemistry, we have shown that a majority of these ebGABA neurons are long-range projection GABAergic neurons. We conclude that, ebGABA cells are predetermined to become exceptional nodes in the functional and structural organization of the hippocampus, throughout their lifetime.

Ca²⁺ influx is one of the critical events that trigger synaptic vesicular release, and the accumulation of residual free Ca²⁺ in synapses is also important for activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. Ca²⁺ imaging with fluorescence indicators (synthetic or genetically encoded) is a powerful approach to monitor Ca²⁺ levels in neurons and synapses. Although accumulating studies in vertebrate systems have been carried out to demonstrate the role of Ca²⁺ in synaptic transmission and plasticity, most of these studies rely on pharmacological methods to infer the molecular mechanism, with less emphasis on forward genetic analysis. The Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a powerful neurogenetic platform for studying synaptic transmission, because of the availability of many mutations. However, not many mutations have been analyzed with Ca²⁺ imaging. Besides, although Genetically Encoded Ca²⁺ Indicators (GECIs) including GCaMPs are increasingly popular as the tool to identify neuronal circuits activated by certain stimuli or mediating particular behaviors, the physiological and functional interpretation of neuronal Ca²⁺ transients reported by GECIs remain obscure. By expressing GCaMPs in NMJ synapses, I characterized a spectrum of genetic mutations including sodium channel alleles parats¹, parabss¹, potassium channel mutations Shaker (ShM, Sh¹²⁰), Shab³, ether-a-go-go (eag¹, eag⁴pm), and double mutant eag¹ Sh¹²⁰. Drosophila NMJs contain at least three different types of synapses, which include glutamatergic tonic motor synapse type Ib, phasic motor synapse type Is, and modulatory octopaminergic synapse type II. In this study, I found that the ion channel mutations did not uniformly alter the Ca²⁺ dynamics in type Ib, Is and II synapses. Based on genetic dissection and pharmacological analyses, I concluded that the excitability type I and type II synapses are differentially regulated by various ion channels, and that ion channels mainly influence the influx of Ca²⁺ upon membrane depolarization but not the subsequent clearance. I also attempted to interpret the significance of synaptic Ca²⁺ transients by correlating Ca²⁺ imaging with electrophysiological recordings. One important gap in the application of GCaMP indicators is its postsynaptic physiological relevance. Correlation of synaptic GCaMP Ca²⁺ transients with postsynaptic currents simultaneously recorded by focal extracellular recording indicated that Ca²⁺ transients reported by GCaMPs were slow, and did not reflect immediate synaptic transmission. Rather, the kinetics of synaptic Ca²⁺ transients was temporally correlated with short-term synaptic plasticity such as facilitation and depression. The hyperexcitable ion channel mutations Sh and parabss¹ enhanced the synaptic Ca²⁺ transient amplitudes as well as depression. Type Is synapses of hyperexcitable mutations such as eag¹ Sh¹²⁰ and parabss¹ often displayed single stimulus pulse-evoked Ca²⁺ transients, which were induced by high frequency repetitive firing of action potentials. Such Ca²⁺ transients were correlated with supernumerary peaks of postsynaptic currents. Based on the slow kinetics and the correlation with short-term plasticity, I conclude that GCaMP Ca²⁺ signals better reflect the accumulation of cytosolic residual Ca²⁺. The spontaneous Ca²⁺ waves in larval motor neurons were well correlated with high frequency nerve action potentials, suggesting that accumulation of residual Ca²⁺ occurs in larval crawling. Overall, this study provided important information about the different excitability control and Ca²⁺ clearance mechanisms in different synapses, and examined how membrane excitability controls the influx and accumulation of synaptic cytosolic residual Ca2+, as indicated by GCaMPs. Further, by correlating synaptic Ca²⁺ dynamics with electrophysiology, this study also investigated how to interpret GCaMP Ca²⁺ signals in the context of facilitation and depression, establishing a basis for an integrated approach of studying short-term synaptic plasticity from complementary physiological signals.