Abstract
BackgroundPeripheral diabetic neuropathy can be painful and its symptoms include hyperalgesia, allodynia and spontaneous pain. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is involved in diabetes-induced hyperalgesia and allodynia. However, the molecular target through which H2S induces hyperalgesia in diabetic animals is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the possible involvement of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in H2S-induced hyperalgesia in diabetic rats.ResultsStreptozotocin (STZ) injection produced hyperglycemia in rats. Intraplantar injection of NaHS (an exogenous donor of H2S, 3–100 µg/paw) induced hyperalgesia, in a time-dependent manner, in formalin-treated diabetic rats. NaHS-induced hyperalgesia was partially prevented by local intraplantar injection of capsazepine (0.3–3 µg/paw), HC-030031 (100–316 µg/paw) and SKF-96365 (10–30 µg/paw) blockers, at 21 days post-STZ injection. At the doses used, these blockers did not modify formalin-induced nociception. Moreover, capsazepine (0.3–30 µg/paw), HC-030031 (100–1000 µg/paw) and SKF-96365 (10–100 µg/paw) reduced formalin-induced nociception in diabetic rats. Contralateral injection of the highest doses used did not modify formalin-induced flinching behavior. Hyperglycemia, at 21 days, also increased protein expression of cystathionine-β-synthase enzyme (CBS) and TRPC6, but not TRPA1 nor TRPV1, channels in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Repeated injection of NaHS enhanced CBS and TRPC6 expression, but hydroxylamine (HA) prevented the STZ-induced increase of CBS protein. In addition, daily administration of SKF-96365 diminished TRPC6 protein expression, whereas NaHS partially prevented the decrease of SKF-96365-induced TRPC6 expression. Concordantly, daily intraplantar injection of NaHS enhanced, and HA prevented STZ-induced intraepidermal fiber loss, respectively. CBS was expressed in small- and medium-sized cells of DRG and co-localized with TRPV1, TRPA1 and TRPC6 in IB4-positive neurons.ConclusionsOur data suggest that H2S leads to hyperalgesia in diabetic rats through activation of TRPV1, TRPA1 and TRPC channels and, subsequent intraepidermal fibers loss. CBS enzyme inhibitors or TRP-channel blockers could be useful for treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy.
Highlights
Peripheral diabetic neuropathy can be painful and its symptoms include hyperalgesia, allodynia and spontaneous pain
The current study suggests for the first time the possible participation of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels as molecular targets of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to induce painful peripheral neuropathy in diabetic rats
We found that experimental diabetes increased transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6), but not TRPV1 nor transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), protein expression in dorsal root ganglia (DRG)
Summary
Peripheral diabetic neuropathy can be painful and its symptoms include hyperalgesia, allodynia and spontaneous pain. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is involved in diabetes-induced hyperalgesia and allodynia. The aim of this study was to determine the possible involvement of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in H 2S-induced hyperalgesia in diabetic rats. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is the most common and debilitating complication of diabetes, which is characterized by symptoms of peripheral nerve dysfunction as hyperalgesia and allodynia [2]. The treatment for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy includes glycemic control and symptomatic pain management. Food and Drug Administration has approved only duloxetine, pregabalin and tapentadol for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy, but they have low efficacy and are able to cause serious side effects [3, 4]. The lack of an adequate pharmacological treatment supports the need to clarify better the diabetesassociated painful peripheral neuropathy pathogenesis to relieve this complication
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