British journal of pharmacology
-
The gallnut of Rhus chinensis MILL and its main constituent penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (PGG) inhibited NF-κB activation in LPS-stimulated peritoneal and colonic macrophages. Here we have investigated PGG mechanisms underlying anti-inflammatory effects of PGG in vitro and in vivo. ⋯ PGG reduced activation of NF-κB and MAPK signalling pathways by directly interacting with the MyD88 adaptor protein. PGG may ameliorate inflammatory diseases such as colitis.
-
To understand how anandamide transport inhibition impacts the regulation of nausea and vomiting and the receptor level mechanism of action involved. In light of recent characterization of an anandamide transporter, fatty acid amide hydrolase-1-like anandamide transporter, to provide behavioural support for anandamide cellular reuptake as a facilitated transport process. ⋯ These results suggest that anandamide transport inhibition by the compound ARN272 tonically activates CB1 receptors and as such produces a type of indirect agonism to regulate toxin-induced nausea and vomiting. The results also provide behavioural evidence in support of a facilitated transport mechanism used in the cellular reuptake of anandamide.
-
Comparative Study
Reversible inhibition of the glycine transporter GlyT2 circumvents acute toxicity while preserving efficacy in the treatment of pain.
Available medications for chronic pain provide only partial relief and often cause unacceptable side effects. There is therefore a need for novel molecular targets to develop new therapeutics with improved efficacy and tolerability. Despite encouraging efficacy data in rodents with inhibitors of the neuronal glycine transporter-2 (GlyT2), there are also some reports of toxicity and their development was discontinued. ⋯ Our pharmacological comparison of two closely related GlyT2 inhibitors with different modes of inhibition provides important insights into their safety and efficacy profiles, uncovering that in the presence of a GlyT2 mechanism-based toxicity, reversible inhibitors might allow a tolerable balance between efficacy and toxicity. These findings shed light into the drawbacks associated with the early GlyT2 inhibitors and describe a new mechanism that might serve as the starting point for new drug development.
-
Mas oncogene-related gene (Mrg) receptors are exclusively distributed in small-sized neurons in trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia (DRG). We investigated the effects of MrgC receptor activation on inflammatory hyperalgesia and its mechanisms. ⋯ Activation of MrgC receptors suppressed up-regulation of pronociceptive mediators and consequently inhibited inflammatory pain, because of the activation of up-regulated MrgC receptors and subsequent endogenous activity at MORs. The uniquely distributed MrgC receptors could be a novel target for relieving inflammatory pain.