Abstract:Background Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) occurs as either a 27- or 38-amino acid neuropeptide and belongs to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/glucagon/secretin family of peptides. PACAP and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide have a 68% homology of their amino acid sequences and share three B-type G-protein coupled receptors: VPAC1, VPAC2 and PAC1 receptors. Methods/results The distribution of PACAP-38 and its receptors in the brain is only partly described in the literature. He… Show more
“…2 ). These sites largely overlap, but there are differences and few studies have looked at cellular co-expression other than in the trigeminal and sphenopalatine ganglia [ 75 , 76 ]. Fig.…”
Section: Migraine Relevant Sites Of Cgrp and Pacap And Their Receptorsmentioning
The neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) have emerged as mediators of migraine pathogenesis. Both are vasodilatory peptides that can cause migraine-like attacks when infused into people and migraine-like symptoms when injected into rodents. In this narrative review, we compare the similarities and differences between the peptides in both their clinical and preclinical migraine actions. A notable clinical difference is that PACAP, but not CGRP, causes premonitory-like symptoms in patients. Both peptides are found in distinct, but overlapping areas relevant to migraine, most notably with the prevalence of CGRP in trigeminal ganglia and PACAP in sphenopalatine ganglia. In rodents, the two peptides share activities, including vasodilation, neurogenic inflammation, and nociception. Most strikingly, CGRP and PACAP cause similar migraine-like symptoms in rodents that are manifested as light aversion and tactile allodynia. Yet, the peptides appear to act by independent mechanisms possibly by distinct intracellular signaling pathways. The complexity of these signaling pathways is magnified by the existence of multiple CGRP and PACAP receptors that may contribute to migraine pathogenesis. Based on these differences, we suggest PACAP and its receptors provide a rich set of targets to complement and augment the current CGRP-based migraine therapeutics.
“…2 ). These sites largely overlap, but there are differences and few studies have looked at cellular co-expression other than in the trigeminal and sphenopalatine ganglia [ 75 , 76 ]. Fig.…”
Section: Migraine Relevant Sites Of Cgrp and Pacap And Their Receptorsmentioning
The neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) have emerged as mediators of migraine pathogenesis. Both are vasodilatory peptides that can cause migraine-like attacks when infused into people and migraine-like symptoms when injected into rodents. In this narrative review, we compare the similarities and differences between the peptides in both their clinical and preclinical migraine actions. A notable clinical difference is that PACAP, but not CGRP, causes premonitory-like symptoms in patients. Both peptides are found in distinct, but overlapping areas relevant to migraine, most notably with the prevalence of CGRP in trigeminal ganglia and PACAP in sphenopalatine ganglia. In rodents, the two peptides share activities, including vasodilation, neurogenic inflammation, and nociception. Most strikingly, CGRP and PACAP cause similar migraine-like symptoms in rodents that are manifested as light aversion and tactile allodynia. Yet, the peptides appear to act by independent mechanisms possibly by distinct intracellular signaling pathways. The complexity of these signaling pathways is magnified by the existence of multiple CGRP and PACAP receptors that may contribute to migraine pathogenesis. Based on these differences, we suggest PACAP and its receptors provide a rich set of targets to complement and augment the current CGRP-based migraine therapeutics.
“…It has been characterized in representatives of most of the major vertebrate phyla, and peptide functions are diverse and include the regulation of neurotransmission as a neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, and neurotrophic factor ( 19 â 21 ). In mammals, PACAP is highly abundant in the hypothalamus from which it is secreted to the pituitary gland and is also found in other brain regions ( 22 â 25 ). In this study, we aimed to understand the role of the cephalochordate PACAP/GCG system (peptide ;precursor and receptor) and mapped its distribution and characterize its potential functions in the brain of amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri .…”
The Hatschekâs pit in the cephalochordate amphioxus, an invertebrate deuterostome basal to chordates is suggested to be the functional homolog structure of the vertebrate adenohypophysis based on anatomy and expression of homologous neuroendocrine genes. However, the endocrine potential of the cephalochordate Hatschekâs pit remains to be demonstrated as well as the physiological actions of the secreted neuropeptides. In this study, we have explored the distribution and characterize the potential function of the amphioxus PACAP/GCG precursor, which is the ortholog of the hypothalamic PACAP neuropeptide in vertebrates. In amphioxi, two PACAP/GCG transcripts PACAP/GCGa and PACAP/GCGbc that are alternative isoforms of a single gene with different peptide coding potentials were isolated. Immunofluorescence staining detected their expression around the nucleus of Rohde, supporting that this structure may be homologous of the neurosecretory cells of the vertebrate hypothalamus where abundant PACAP is found. PACAP/GCGa was also detected in the infundibulumâlike downgrowth approaching the Hatschekâs pit, indicating diffusion of PACAP/GCGa from the CNS to the pit via the infundibulumâlike downgrowth. Under a high salinity challenge, PACAP/GCGa was upregulated in amphioxi head and PACAP/GCGa treatment increased expression of GHl in Hatschekâs pit in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that PACAP/GCGa may be involved in the regulation of GHl via hypothalamic-pituitary (HP)-like axis similar as in the vertebrates. Our results support that the amphioxus Hatschekâs pit is likely to be the functional homolog of pituitary gland in vertebrates.
“…Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a 37-amino-acid neuropeptide, is widely distributed in central and peripheral nervous system [ 17 , 18 ]. It is well documented that CGRP has an essential role in the modulation of orofacial pain, especially migraine [ 19 , 20 ].…”
Background
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) has been revealed to play bidirectional roles in orofacial pain modulation. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a well-known pro-nociceptive molecule that participates in the modulation of orofacial pain. We aimed to determine the effects of N/OFQ on the modulation of orofacial pain and on the release of CGRP.
Methods
Orofacial pain model was established by ligating springs between incisors and molars in rats for the simulation of tooth movement. The expression level of N/OFQ was determined and pain level was scored in response to orofacial pain. Both agonist and antagonist of N/OFQ receptor were administered to examine their effects on pain and the expression of CGRP in trigeminal ganglia (TG). Moreover, gene therapy based on the overexpression of N/OFQ was delivered to validate the modulatory role of N/OFQ on pain and CGRP expression.
Results
Tooth movement elicited orofacial pain and an elevation in N/OFQ expression. N/OFQ exacerbated orofacial pain and upregulated CGRP expression in TG, while UFP-101 alleviated pain and downregulated CGRP expression. N/OFQ-based gene therapy was successful in overexpressing N/OFQ in TG, which resulted in pain exacerbation and elevation of CGRP expression in TG.
Conclusions
N/OFQ exacerbated orofacial pain possibly through upregulating CGRP.
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