Pregabalin inhibits purinergic P2Y2 receptor and TRPV4 to suppress astrocyte activation and to relieve neuropathic pain.

Abstract

BACKGROUNDS:

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4)-mediated astrocyte activation is critical to neuropathic pain. Pregabalin, a widely used drug to treat chronic pain, is reported to lower the intracellular calcium level. However, the molecular mechanism by which pregabalin decreases the intracellular calcium level remains unknown. Purinergic P2Y2 receptor-a member of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family-regulates calcium-related signal transduction in astrocyte activation. We investigated whether P2Y2 receptor is involved in the pharmacological effects of pregabalin on neuropathic pain.

METHODS:

Neuropathic pain was induced by chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion (CCD) in rats. Paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) was used for behavioral testing. Intracellular calcium concentration was measured using a fluorescent calcium indicator (Fluo-4 AM).

RESULTS:

We found that P2Y2 receptor protein was upregulated and astrocytes were activated in the experimental rats after CCD surgery. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased the intracellular calcium concentration and induced astrocyte activation in cultured astrocytes but was prevented via P2Y2 receptor inhibitor AR-C118925 or pregabalin. Furthermore, plasmid-mediated P2Y2 receptor overexpression induced an elevation of the intracellular calcium levels and inflammation in astrocytes, which was abolished by the TRPV4 inhibitor HC-067047. AR-C118925, HC-067047, and pregabalin relieved neuropathic pain and inflammation in rats after CCD surgery. Finally, plasmid-mediated P2Y2 receptor overexpression induced neuropathic pain in rats, which was abolished by pregabalin administration.

CONCLUSIONS:

Pathophysiological variables that upregulated the P2Y2 receptor/TRPV4/calcium axis contribute to astrocyte activation in neuropathic pain. Pregabalin exerts an analgesic effect by inhibiting this pathway.

• Authors: Shasha Song, Qianwen Wang, Yujuan Qu, Wenshuang Gao, Danyang Li, Xiaoqian Xu, Shouwei Yue
• Journal: European journal of pharmacology (Eur J Pharmacol) Vol. 960 Pg. 176140 (Dec 05 2023) ISSN: 1879-0712 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 37925132 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Pregabalin
• AR-C118925
• TRPV Cation Channels
• Calcium
• Antineoplastic Agents

Topics

• Rats
• Animals
• Pregabalin (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Astrocytes
• TRPV Cation Channels (metabolism)
• Calcium (metabolism)
• Neuralgia (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Calcium Signaling
• Inflammation (drug therapy)