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The Journal of Neuroscience, January 30, 2008, 28(5):1064-1075; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1565-06.2008

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Cellular/Molecular
Cannabinoids Desensitize Capsaicin and Mustard Oil Responses in Sensory Neurons via TRPA1 Activation

Armen N. Akopian,¹ Nikita B. Ruparel,¹ Amol Patwardhan,¹ and Kenneth M. Hargreaves^1,2

Departments of ¹Endodontics and ²Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229

Correspondence should be addressed to Armen N. Akopian, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900. Email: akopian{at}uthscsa.edu

Although the cannabinoid agonists R-(+)-(2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(4-morpholinyl)methyl]pyrol[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)-(1-naphthalenyl) methanone mesylate [WIN 55,212-2 (WIN)] and (R,S)-3-(2-iodo-5-nitrobenzoyl)-1-(1-methyl-2-piperidinylmethyl)-1H-indole (AM1241) exert peripheral antihyperalgesia in inflammatory pain models, the mechanism for cannabinoid-induced inhibition of nociceptive sensory neurons has not been fully studied. Because TRPV1 and TRPA1 channels play important roles in controlling hyperalgesia in inflammatory pain models, we investigated their modulation by WIN and AM1241. The applications of WIN (>5 µM) and AM1241 (>30 µM) inhibit responses of sensory neurons to capsaicin and mustard oil. To determine potential mechanisms for the inhibition, we evaluated cannabinoid effects on nociceptors. WIN and AM1241 excite sensory neurons in a concentration-dependent manner via a nonselective Ca²⁺-permeable channel. The expression of TRP channels in CHO cells demonstrates that both WIN and AM1241 activate TRPA1 and, by doing so, attenuate capsaicin and mustard oil responses. Using TRPA1-specific small interfering RNA or TRPA1-deficient mice, we show that the TRPA1 channel is a sole target through which WIN and mustard oil activate sensory neurons. In contrast, AM1241 activation of sensory neurons is mediated by TRPA1 and an unknown channel. The knockdown of TRPA1 activity in neurons completely eliminates the desensitizing effects of WIN and AM1241 on capsaicin-activated currents. Furthermore, the WIN- or AM1241-induced inhibition of capsaicin-evoked nocifensive behavior via peripheral actions is reversed in TRPA1 null-mutant mice. Together, this study demonstrates that certain cannabinoids exert their peripheral antinocifensive actions via activation of the TRPA1 channel on sensory neurons.

Key words: cannabinoid; TRPA1; TRPV1; nociceptor; pain; trigeminal

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Received April 11, 2006; revised Nov. 30, 2007; accepted Dec. 4, 2007.

Correspondence should be addressed to Armen N. Akopian, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900. Email: akopian{at}uthscsa.edu

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