Palecek J, Paleckova V, Willis WD (2001) Dermorphin-saporin conjugate relieves inflammatory pain after peripheral application. Neuroscience 2001 Abstracts 508.10. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: Opioid receptors have been shown to exist in specific population of DRG neurons signaling nociceptive information from peripheral tissues. In our study, we attempted to selectively destroy these neurons by using a peripheral application of the mu opioid agonist Dermorphin conjugated to ribosome inactivating toxin Saporin (DERM-SAP, Advanced Targeting Systems) in order to alleviate inflammatory pain. Intraarticular or intraplantar injection of carrageenan or CFA was used to induce inflammation in rats. The DERM-SAP conjugate was injected into the inflamed area 12-48h later. Responses of the animals to mechanical and thermal stimuli were tested before and after the inflammation and up to 21 days after the DERM-SAP application. The rats developed heat hyperalgesia in the affected paw 24 hours after the intraarticular CFA injection. In the saline injected group the hyperalgesia persisted for up to 19 days, but in the DERM-SAP injected group the signs of hyperalgesia were improving from day 7. Also mechanical allodynia tested with a VF filament (1.1g) was alleviated in the DERM-SAP group. In the carrageenan group, the DERM-SAP treatment decreased the heat hyperalgesia and prevented the development of hyperalgesia after repeated carrageenan application, 21days after the DERM-SAP treatment. Postmortem evaluation with a specific antibody showed presence of saporin in the DRG neurons. Our results show that peripheral application of DERM-SAP relieves inflammatory pain and suggest that peripheral application of neuropeptides conjugated to cell toxins or other substances such as antisense probes could be a useful tool for treating pain of peripheral origin. Supported by NIH grants NS09743 and NS11253.
Related Products: Dermorphin-SAP / MOR-SAP (Cat. #IT-12)