A-kinase anchoring protein 79/150 coordinates metabotropic glutamate receptor sensitization of peripheral sensory neurons

• Published in: Pain (Amsterdam) Vol. 156; no. 11; pp. 2364 - 2372
• Main Authors: Szteyn, Kalina, Rowan, Matthew P, Gomez, Ruben, Du, Junhui, Carlton, Susan M, Jeske, Nathaniel A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.2015
• Subjects: A Kinase Anchor Proteins - genetics; A Kinase Anchor Proteins - metabolism; Animals; Cells, Cultured; Estrenes - pharmacology; Ganglia, Spinal - cytology; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Gene Expression Regulation - genetics; Hyperalgesia - metabolism; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Neural Conduction - physiology; Neurotransmitter Agents - pharmacology; Pain Threshold - physiology; Peripheral Nerves - physiology; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Physical Stimulation - adverse effects; Pyrrolidinones - pharmacology; Rats; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate - metabolism; Sensory Receptor Cells - drug effects; Sensory Receptor Cells - metabolism; Skin - innervation; Trigeminal Ganglion - cytology
• ISSN: 0304-3959; 1872-6623
• DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000295

Glutamate serves as the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system. Previous studies have identified a role for glutamate and group I metabotropic receptors as targets for study in peripheral inflammatory pain. However, the coordination of signaling events that transpire from receptor activation to afferent neuronal sensitization has not been explored. Herein, we identify that scaffolding protein A-kinase anchoring protein 79/150 (AKAP150) coordinates increased peripheral thermal sensitivity after group I metabotropic receptor (mGluR5) activation. In both acute and persistent models of thermal somatosensory behavior, we report that mGluR5 sensitization requires AKAP150 expression. Furthermore, electrophysiological approaches designed to record afferent neuronal activity reveal that mGluR5 sensitization also requires functional AKAP150 expression. In dissociated primary afferent neurons, mGluR5 activation increases TRPV1 responses in an AKAP-dependent manner through a mechanism that induces AKAP association with TRPV1. Experimental results presented herein identify a mechanism of receptor-driven scaffolding association with ion channel targets. Importantly, this mechanism could prove significant in the search for therapeutic targets that repress episodes of acute pain from becoming chronic in nature.