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N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor- and calpain-mediated proteolytic cleavage of K+-Cl- cotransporter-2 impairs spinal chloride homeostasis in neuropathic pain.

Abstract
Loss of synaptic inhibition by γ-aminobutyric acid and glycine due to potassium chloride cotransporter-2 (KCC2) down-regulation in the spinal cord is a critical mechanism of synaptic plasticity in neuropathic pain. Here we present novel evidence that peripheral nerve injury diminishes glycine-mediated inhibition and induces a depolarizing shift in the reversal potential of glycine-mediated currents (E(glycine)) in spinal dorsal horn neurons. Blocking glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors normalizes synaptic inhibition, E(glycine), and KCC2 by nerve injury. Strikingly, nerve injury increases calcium-dependent calpain activity in the spinal cord that in turn causes KCC2 cleavage at the C terminus. Inhibiting calpain blocks KCC2 cleavage induced by nerve injury and NMDA, thereby normalizing E(glycine). Furthermore, calpain inhibition or silencing of μ-calpain at the spinal level reduces neuropathic pain. Thus, nerve injury promotes proteolytic cleavage of KCC2 through NMDA receptor-calpain activation, resulting in disruption of chloride homeostasis and diminished synaptic inhibition in the spinal cord. Targeting calpain may represent a new strategy for restoring KCC2 levels and tonic synaptic inhibition and for treating chronic neuropathic pain.
AuthorsHong-Yi Zhou, Shao-Rui Chen, Hee-Sun Byun, Hong Chen, Li Li, Hee-Dong Han, Gabriel Lopez-Berestein, Anil K Sood, Hui-Lin Pan
JournalThe Journal of biological chemistry (J Biol Chem) Vol. 287 Issue 40 Pg. 33853-64 (Sep 28 2012) ISSN: 1083-351X [Electronic] United States
PMID22854961 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Chlorides
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Symporters
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Calpain
Topics
  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Calpain (metabolism)
  • Chlorides (chemistry)
  • Electrophysiology (methods)
  • Glutamic Acid (metabolism)
  • Homeostasis
  • Male
  • Neuralgia (metabolism)
  • Neuronal Plasticity
  • Pain
  • RNA, Small Interfering (metabolism)
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, AMPA (metabolism)
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (chemistry, metabolism)
  • Symporters (chemistry)
  • Synapses (metabolism)
  • K Cl- Cotransporters

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