Abstract
BackgroundStimulation of trigeminovascular pathway is widely used to establish the headache animal model. Headache is a common neurological disorder, in which symptomatic attacks are mediated by calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP). CGRP is synthesized and released from the trigeminal ganglion to transmit pain signals under stimulation. On the other hand, Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) is a candidate transmitter/modulator for migraine, and stimulation of its receptor, NPFFR2, increases the expression and release of CGRP in mice sensory neurons. Here, we investigate the impact of NPFFR2 on trigeminal CGRP level in a capsaicin-induced headache mouse model.MethodsMice were intracisternally injected with capsaicin into the cisterna magna to activate the trigeminovascular pathway and induce headache symptoms. Mice pretreated with Npffr2-shRNA or NPFFR2 knockouts were adopted to test the impact of NPFFR2 on capsaicin-induced CGRP upregulation in trigeminal ganglion. The gene silencing effect of Npffr2-shRNA in trigeminal ganglion was confirmed by real-time PCR. Trigeminal CGRP level was determined by immunofluorescence staining, and the percentage of CGRP-positive cell was calculated after setting the signal intensity threshold by Image J software. Amount of trigeminal CGRP in NPFFR2 overexpressed mice was also measured by CGRP ELISA.FindingsInfusion of capsaicin into the cisterna magna upregulated the CGRP in trigeminal ganglion and induced spontaneous pain behaviors including the reduction of locomotor activity and the increase of freezing behavior. Intracisternal injection of Npffr2-shRNA reduced the mRNA of Npffr2 in trigeminal ganglion. Mice pretreatment with Npffr2-shRNA prevented capsaicin-induced CGRP upregulation in trigeminal ganglion. Similarly, CGRP upregulation was also reduced in NPFFR2 knockout mice. On the contrary, trigeminal CGRP was increased in NPFFR2 overexpressed mice.ConclusionsReducing the level of NPFFR2 leads to the downregulation of capsaicin-induced CGRP in trigeminal ganglion, which would consequently attenuate the activation of trigeminovascular pathway. Thus, NPFFR2 could serve as a potential target for neuromodulation of cephalic pain.
Highlights
The cause of the headache is linked to activation of the trigeminovascular pathway [1]
Reducing the level of Neuropeptide FF receptor type 2 (NPFFR2) leads to the downregulation of capsaicin-induced calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) in trigeminal ganglion, which would attenuate the activation of trigeminovascular pathway
NPFFR2 could serve as a potential target for neuromodulation of cephalic pain
Summary
The cause of the headache is linked to activation of the trigeminovascular pathway [1]. In this pathway, afferent nerves transmit nociceptive signals from the meninges and other peripheral areas to the trigeminal ganglion and trigeminal nucleus caudalis. The trigeminal ganglion amplifies pain through circuits involving calcitoningene-related peptide (CGRP) [2], which is synthesized in the trigeminal ganglion and released into cranial venous during migraine attacks [1]. Stimulation of trigeminovascular pathway is widely used to establish the headache animal model. Headache is a common neurological disorder, in which symptomatic attacks are mediated by calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP). CGRP is synthesized and released from the trigeminal ganglion to transmit pain signals under stimulation. We investigate the impact of NPFFR2 on trigeminal CGRP level in a capsaicin-induced headache mouse model
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