期刊
PAIN
卷 128, 期 3, 页码 199-208出版社
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2006.09.022
关键词
epinephrine; norepinephrine; catecholamines; allodynia; hyperalgesia; carrageenan
资金
- NCRR NIH HHS [K12 RR023248] Funding Source: Medline
- NICHD NIH HHS [K12 HD052191] Funding Source: Medline
- NIDCR NIH HHS [R01 DE016558, U01 DE017018] Funding Source: Medline
- NINDS NIH HHS [P01 NS045685] Funding Source: Medline
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), an enzyme that metabolizes catecholamines, has recently been implicated in the modulation of pain. Our group demonstrated that human genetic variants of COMT are predictive for the development of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD) and are-associated with heightened experimental pain sensitivity [Diatchenko, L, Slade, GD, Nackley, AG, Bhalang, K, Sigurdsson, A, Belfer, I, et al., Genetic basis for individual variations in pain perception and the development of a chronic pain condition, Hum Mol Genet 2005;14:135-43.]. Variants associated with heightened pain sensitivity produce lower COMT activity. Here we report the mechanisms underlying COMT-dependent pain sensitivity. To characterize the means whereby elevated catecholamine levels, resulting from reduced COMT activity, modulate heightened pain sensitivity, we administered a COMT inhibitor to rats and measured behavioral responsiveness to mechanical and thermal stimuli. We show that depressed COMT activity results in enhanced mechanical and thermal pain sensitivity. This phenomenon is completely blocked by the nonselective beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol or by the combined administration of selective beta(2)- and beta(3)-adrenergic antagonists, while administration of beta(1)-adrenergic, of alpha- adrenergic, or dopaminergic receptor antagonists fail to alter COMT-dependent pain sensitivity. These data provide the first direct evidence that low COMT activity leads to increased pain sensitivity via a beta(2/3)-adrenergic mechanism. These findings are of considerable clinical importance, suggesting that pain conditions resulting from low COMT activity and/or elevated catecholamine levels can be treated with pharmacological agents that block both beta(2)- and beta(3)-adrenergic receptors. (c) 2006 International Association for the Study of pain. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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