The management of chronic pain through mono-pharmacotherapy directed at G protein-coupled receptors using agonists such as morphine or clonidine sometimes results in adverse consequences, such as drug-induced tolerance or hypersensitivity, or prescription drug abuse. Opioid and adrenergic agonists produce analgesia synergistically at G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which translates to significant pain relief with substantially lower doses and with significantly increased therapeutic indices. The objective of this application is to characterize the mechanisms underlying specific receptor subtype pairs with established synaptic localization. The central hypothesis of this application is that the mechanism underlying synergistic interactions between co-localized receptors differs from that underlying synergistic interactions between receptors residing in distinct locations. The proposed research will 1) determine how synergistic interactions occur between opioid receptor (OR) and alpha-2 adrenergic receptor (AR) agonists, and 2) examine the functional relationships between OR and AR with regards to nociceptive neurotransmitters.
Two Specific Aims comprise this application: 1. Establish the mechanism by which presynaptically co-localized GPCR pairs synergize. 2. Determine the mechanism by which presynaptic-postsynaptic GPCR pairs synergize. The mechanisms underlying synergistic interactions between GPCRs have been minimally investigated, have significant translational potential, and are, therefore, highly innovative. We and others have established that alpha 2 adrenergic and delta opioid receptors manifest powerful analgesic synergy when co-activated;more recently, we have demonstrated that co-localized alpha 2 adrenergic and delta opioid receptor subtypes can synergize in production of analgesic synergy and manifest this via cooperative inhibition of nociceptor transmitter release. The proposed research is expected to identify cellular signaling mechanisms operating in these spinal nociceptive terminals that give rise to synergy. Further, electrophysiological study of dorsal horn neurons will examine the intercellular mechanisms of drug action and interaction at the single cell level, specifically targeting two receptors that do not co-localize. The information gained from these studies may identify new therapeutic analgesic combinations and combination receptor targets leading toward reduction of dependence liabilities of analgesic treatments.

Public Health Relevance

Opiates, like morphine and oxycontin, remain the most effective treatments to relieve moderate to severe persistent pain. However, opiates have several untoward effects that limit their use, for example constipation, tolerance and abuse liability. One approach to address the problems of opiate tolerance is the use of non-opiate pain relievers, like clonidine (an alpha 2 adrenergic drug), which are also accompanied by their own set of negative side effects. Synergistic combinations of very low doses (that don't provide much pain relief given by themselves) of an opiate and clonidine combined can provide full pain relief with reduced side effects. This project explores what cellular processes enable this synergistic pain relief in order to understand how to best take advantage of such therapeutic opportunities.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA015438-10
Application #
8677833
Study Section
Molecular Neuropharmacology and Signaling Study Section (MNPS)
Program Officer
Purohit, Vishnudutt
Project Start
2002-04-01
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2014-07-01
Budget End
2015-06-30
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Peterson, Cristina D; Kitto, Kelley F; Akgün, Eyup et al. (2017) Bivalent ligand that activates mu opioid receptor and antagonizes mGluR5 receptor reduces neuropathic pain in mice. Pain 158:2431-2441
Chabot-Doré, Anne-Julie; Millecamps, Magali; Naso, Lina et al. (2015) Dual allosteric modulation of opioid antinociceptive potency by ?2A-adrenoceptors. Neuropharmacology 99:285-300
Chabot-Doré, A-J; Schuster, D J; Stone, L S et al. (2015) Analgesic synergy between opioid and ?2 -adrenoceptors. Br J Pharmacol 172:388-402
Schuster, D J; Metcalf, M D; Kitto, K F et al. (2015) Ligand requirements for involvement of PKC? in synergistic analgesic interactions between spinal ? and ? opioid receptors. Br J Pharmacol 172:642-53
Stone, Laura S; German, Jonathan P; Kitto, Kelly F et al. (2014) Morphine and clonidine combination therapy improves therapeutic window in mice: synergy in antinociceptive but not in sedative or cardiovascular effects. PLoS One 9:e109903
Schuster, Daniel J; Kitto, Kelley F; Overland, Aaron C et al. (2013) Protein kinase C? is required for spinal analgesic synergy between delta opioid and alpha-2A adrenergic receptor agonist pairs. J Neurosci 33:13538-46
Metcalf, Matthew D; Yekkirala, Ajay S; Powers, Michael D et al. (2012) The ? opioid receptor agonist SNC80 selectively activates heteromeric ?-? opioid receptors. ACS Chem Neurosci 3:505-9
Fairbanks, Carolyn A; Stone, Laura S; Wilcox, George L (2009) Pharmacological profiles of alpha 2 adrenergic receptor agonists identified using genetically altered mice and isobolographic analysis. Pharmacol Ther 123:224-38
Riedl, Maureen S; Schnell, Stephen A; Overland, Aaron C et al. (2009) Coexpression of alpha 2A-adrenergic and delta-opioid receptors in substance P-containing terminals in rat dorsal horn. J Comp Neurol 513:385-98
Fairbanks, Carolyn A; Kitto, Kelley F; Nguyen, H Oanh et al. (2009) Clonidine and dexmedetomidine produce antinociceptive synergy in mouse spinal cord. Anesthesiology 110:638-47

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