Sickle cell disease is accompanied by both chronic and severe episodic pain that is difficult to treat, and profoundly erodes the quality of life of those who suffer from it. Despite a detailed understanding of the genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry of sickle hemoglobin, the pathogenesis of the profound pain syndromes observed in sickle cell disease remain incompletely understood and likely involve complex and heterogeneous steps occurring in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. The goal of this proposal is to elucidate the mechanisms by which sickle cell disease results in pain, focusing on peripheral mechanisms in primary afferent nerve terminals. Using a murine model of severe sickle cell disease, the Berkeley Sickle Mice, we demonstrate that these mice exhibit marked hypersensitivity to mechanical, heat and cold peripheral stimuli. Furthermore, induction of acute sickling with hypoxia specifically exacerbates the ongoing mechanical hypersensitivity in sickle cell mice. In agreement, teased fiber recordings from skin-nerve preparations from these mice indicate that both myelinated Ad fiber and unmyelinated C fiber nociceptors are sensitized to mechanical stimuli. These findings parallel the mechanical hypersensitivity and pain reported by patients with sickle cell disease. Thus, these sickle cell mice represent a novel model of long-lasting chronic pain hypersensitivity that is closely associated with a human disease. On the basis of these findings and our observations with sensory plasticity in other pain models, we hypothesize that sensitization of primary afferent terminals contributes to sickle cell pain and that this sensitization is mediated by increased function of Transient Receptor Potential ion channels. Therefore, the Specific Aims for this project are to 1) Characterize the sensitization state of primary afferent fibers to mechanical, heat and cold stimuli in mice with sickle cell disease. 2) Determine the contribution of the Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Ion Channels TRPA1 and TRPV1 to both the behavioral hypersensitivity and the sensitization of primary afferent fibers in sickle cell disease. 3) Characterize how acute vaso-occlusion modulates mechanical hypersensitivity in sickle mice. We will use both ex vivo and in vivo electrophysiological recordings to characterize the sensitization state of primary afferent fibers in Berkeley sickle cell mice. Next, we will utilize both genetic (TRP channel null mice induced with sickle cell disease) and pharmacologic approaches (selective TRP channel antagonists) to determine the role of specific TRP-family ion channels in sickle cell-associated primary afferent sensitization and pain behavior. Finally, we will induce acute sickling crises by an experimental model of vaso-occlusion to study how vaso-occlusion modulates mechanical hypersensitivity in sickle mice. These interrelated Specific Aims provide a multifaceted, coordinated and tightly focused approach that will clarify the role of primary afferent neurons in the development of pain syndromes within the complex setting of sickle cell-induced vascular and organ pathologies, as well as provide insight into the potential value of targeted TRP antagonist therapies for sickle cell pain.

Public Health Relevance

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder of the red blood cell wherein an abnormal hemoglobin molecule (called sickle hemoglobin) can cause the red cell to change shape and clog blood vessels resulting in severe pain and suffering. In 2003 alone, there were over 20,000 hospitalizations for children with sickle cell disease and over 16,000 of these were for vaso- occlusive painful events resulting in over 65,000 hospital days per year. The pain and disability are even more severe in adults. In this grant, we intend to study the precise nerve cells and pathways that sense the pain and carry the message to the brain so that we can develop new methods to treat sickle cell disease more safely and effectively.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS070711-03
Application #
8134858
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-Y (S1))
Program Officer
Porter, Linda L
Project Start
2009-09-30
Project End
2013-08-31
Budget Start
2011-09-01
Budget End
2012-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$523,934
Indirect Cost
Name
Medical College of Wisconsin
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
937639060
City
Milwaukee
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53226
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Cowie, Ashley M; Moehring, Francie; O'Hara, Crystal et al. (2018) Optogenetic Inhibition of CGRP? Sensory Neurons Reveals Their Distinct Roles in Neuropathic and Incisional Pain. J Neurosci 38:5807-5825
Sadler, Katelyn E; Zappia, Katherine J; O?Hara, Crystal L et al. (2018) Chemokine (c-c motif) receptor 2 mediates mechanical and cold hypersensitivity in sickle cell disease mice. Pain 159:1652-1663
Moehring, Francie; Cowie, Ashley M; Menzel, Anthony D et al. (2018) Keratinocytes mediate innocuous and noxious touch via ATP-P2X4 signaling. Elife 7:
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Moehring, Francie; Waas, Matthew; Keppel, Theodore R et al. (2018) Quantitative Top-Down Mass Spectrometry Identifies Proteoforms Differentially Released during Mechanical Stimulation of Mouse Skin. J Proteome Res 17:2635-2648
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Xiang, Hongfei; Liu, Zhen; Wang, Fei et al. (2017) Primary sensory neuron-specific interference of TRPV1 signaling by AAV-encoded TRPV1 peptide aptamer attenuates neuropathic pain. Mol Pain 13:1744806917717040

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