Methylglyoxal modification of Na v 1.8 facilitates nociceptive neuron firing and causes hyperalgesia in diabetic neuropathy

Bierhaus A, Fleming T, Stoyanov S, Leffler A, Babes A, Neacsu C, Sauer S, Eberhardt M, Schnoelzer M, Lasischka F, Neuhuber W, Kichko T, Konrade I, Elvert R, Mier W, Pirags V, Lukic IK, Morcos M, Dehmer T, Rabbani N, Thornalley PJ, Edelstein D, Nau C, Forbes J, Humpert PM, Schwaninger M, Ziegler D, Stern DM, Cooper ME, Haberkorn U, Brownlee M, Reeh P, Nawroth PP (2012)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2012

Journal

Book Volume: 18

Pages Range: 926-933

Journal Issue: 6

DOI: 10.1038/nm.2750

Abstract

This study establishes a mechanism for metabolic hyperalgesia based on the glycolytic metabolite methylglyoxal. We found that concentrations of plasma methylglyoxal above 600 nM discriminate between diabetes-affected individuals with pain and those without pain. Methylglyoxal depolarizes sensory neurons and induces post-translational modifications of the voltage-gated sodium channel Na v 1.8, which are associated with increased electrical excitability and facilitated firing of nociceptive neurons, whereas it promotes the slow inactivation of Na v 1.7. In mice, treatment with methylglyoxal reduces nerve conduction velocity, facilitates neurosecretion of calcitonin gene-related peptide, increases cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and evokes thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia. This hyperalgesia is reflected by increased blood flow in brain regions that are involved in pain processing. We also found similar changes in streptozotocin-induced and genetic mouse models of diabetes but not in Na v 1.8 knockout (Scn10 ^-/-) mice. Several strategies that include a methylglyoxal scavenger are effective in reducing methylglyoxal-and diabetes-induced hyperalgesia. This previously undescribed concept of metabolically driven hyperalgesia provides a new basis for the design of therapeutic interventions for painful diabetic neuropathy. © 2012 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg Germany (DE) Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH) / Hannover Medical School Germany (DE) University of Bucharest / Universitatea din București Romania (RO) Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) Germany (DE) Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH Germany (DE) Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital / Paula Stradiņa Klīniskā universitātes slimnīca Latvia (LV) Münsterklinik Zwiefalten Germany (DE) University of Warwick United Kingdom (GB) University of Tennessee (UTK) United States (USA) (US) Albert Einstein College of Medicine United States (USA) (US) Baker Idi Heart And Diabetes Institute Australia (AU) Universität zu Lübeck Germany (DE) Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Bierhaus, A., Fleming, T., Stoyanov, S., Leffler, A., Babes, A., Neacsu, C.,... Nawroth, P.P. (2012). Methylglyoxal modification of Na v 1.8 facilitates nociceptive neuron firing and causes hyperalgesia in diabetic neuropathy. Nature Medicine, 18(6), 926-933. https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.2750

MLA:

Bierhaus, Angelika, et al. "Methylglyoxal modification of Na v 1.8 facilitates nociceptive neuron firing and causes hyperalgesia in diabetic neuropathy." Nature Medicine 18.6 (2012): 926-933.

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