RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Opioid-Induced Signaling and Antinociception Are Modulated by the Recently Deorphanized Receptor, GPR171
JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 56
OP 62
DO 10.1124/jpet.119.259242
VO 371
IS 1
A1 McDermott, Max V.
A1 Afrose, Leela
A1 Gomes, Ivone
A1 Devi, Lakshmi A.
A1 Bobeck, Erin N.
YR 2019
UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/371/1/56.abstract
AB ProSAAS is one of the most widely expressed proteins throughout the brain and was recently found to be upregulated in chronic fibromyalgia patients. BigLEN is a neuropeptide that is derived from ProSAAS and was recently discovered to be the endogenous ligand for the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR171. Although BigLEN-GPR171 has been found to play a role in feeding and anxiety behaviors, it has not yet been explored in pain and opioid modulation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate this novel neuropeptide-receptor system in opioid-induced antinociception. We found that GPR171 is expressed in GABAergic neurons within the periaqueductal gray, which is a key brain area involved in pain modulation and opioid functions. We also found that, although the GPR171 agonist and antagonist do not have nociceptive effects on their own, they oppositely regulate morphine-induced antinociception with the agonist enhancing and antagonist reducing antinociception. Lastly, we showed that the GPR171 antagonist or receptor knockdown decreases signaling by the mu-opioid receptor, but not the delta-opioid receptor. Taken together, these results suggest that antagonism of the GPR171 receptor reduces mu opioid receptor signaling and morphine-induced antinociception, whereas the GPR171 agonist enhances morphine antinociception, suggesting that GPR171 may be a novel target toward the development of pain therapeutics.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT GPR171 is a recently deorphanized receptor that is expressed within the periaqueductal gray and can regulate mu opioid receptor signaling and antinociception. This research may contribute to the development of new therapeutics to treat pain.