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Paclitaxel in vitro reversibly sensitizes the excitability of IB4(−) and IB4(+) sensory neurons from male and female rats
Author(s) -
VillalbaRiquelme Eva,
TorreMartínez Roberto,
FernándezCarvajal Asia,
FerrerMontiel Antonio
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/bph.15809
Subject(s) - paclitaxel , trpv1 , peripheral neuropathy , dorsal root ganglion , sensory system , sensitization , medicine , sensory neuron , nociceptor , chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy , pharmacology , neuroscience , endocrinology , chemotherapy , transient receptor potential channel , nociception , biology , immunology , receptor , diabetes mellitus
Background and Purpose Paclitaxel produces a chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy that persists in 50–60% of cancer patients upon treatment. Evidence from animal models suggests an axonopathy of peripheral A‐ and C‐type fibres that affects their excitability. However, direct effects of paclitaxel on sensory neuron excitability and sexual dimorphism remain poorly understood. Experimental Approach We used a long‐lasting (10 days in vitro) primary culture of rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons to investigate the time course effect of paclitaxel on the electrical activity of IB4(−) and IB4(+) sensory neurons of female and male adult Wistar rats. Key Results Paclitaxel strongly and reversibly stimulated spontaneous activity and augmented action potential tonic firing in IB4(−) and IB4(+) neurons in both sexes, peaking at 48 h post‐treatment and virtually disappearing at 96 h. Paclitaxel decreased the current rheobase for action potential firing by reducing and accelerating the after‐hyperpolarization phase. Molecularly, paclitaxel modulated Na + and K + ion currents. Particularly, the drug significantly augmented the function of Na v 1.8, TRPV1 and TRPM8 channels. Furthermore, paclitaxel increased Na v 1.8 and TRPV1 expression at 48 h post‐treatment. Notably, we observed that female DRG neurons appear more sensitive to paclitaxel sensitization than their male counterparts. Conclusions and Implications Our data indicate that paclitaxel similarly potentiated IB4(−) and IB4(+) electrogenicity and uncover a potential sex dimorphism in paclitaxel‐induced chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy. Our in vitro, pre‐clinical, chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy paradigm provides a tool for studying the dynamics and underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to nociceptor sensitization in peripheral neuropathies and for testing desensitizing compounds.