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Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibition increases pain sensitivity through activation of both beta2- and beta3-adrenergic receptors.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nackley, AG; Tan, KS; Fecho, K; Flood, P; Diatchenko, L; Maixner, W
Published in: Pain
April 2007

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), an enzyme that metabolizes catecholamines, has recently been implicated in the modulation of pain. Our group demonstrated that human genetic variants of COMT are predictive for the development of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD) and are associated with heightened experimental pain sensitivity [Diatchenko, L, Slade, GD, Nackley, AG, Bhalang, K, Sigurdsson, A, Belfer, I, et al., Genetic basis for individual variations in pain perception and the development of a chronic pain condition, Hum Mol Genet 2005;14:135-43.]. Variants associated with heightened pain sensitivity produce lower COMT activity. Here we report the mechanisms underlying COMT-dependent pain sensitivity. To characterize the means whereby elevated catecholamine levels, resulting from reduced COMT activity, modulate heightened pain sensitivity, we administered a COMT inhibitor to rats and measured behavioral responsiveness to mechanical and thermal stimuli. We show that depressed COMT activity results in enhanced mechanical and thermal pain sensitivity. This phenomenon is completely blocked by the nonselective beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol or by the combined administration of selective beta(2)- and beta(3)-adrenergic antagonists, while administration of beta(1)-adrenergic, alpha-adrenergic, or dopaminergic receptor antagonists fail to alter COMT-dependent pain sensitivity. These data provide the first direct evidence that low COMT activity leads to increased pain sensitivity via a beta(2/3)-adrenergic mechanism. These findings are of considerable clinical importance, suggesting that pain conditions resulting from low COMT activity and/or elevated catecholamine levels can be treated with pharmacological agents that block both beta(2)- and beta(3)-adrenergic receptors.

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Published In

Pain

DOI

EISSN

1872-6623

Publication Date

April 2007

Volume

128

Issue

3

Start / End Page

199 / 208

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Pain Threshold
  • Male
  • Hyperalgesia
  • Catechols
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors
  • Brain
 

Citation

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Nackley, A. G., Tan, K. S., Fecho, K., Flood, P., Diatchenko, L., & Maixner, W. (2007). Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibition increases pain sensitivity through activation of both beta2- and beta3-adrenergic receptors. Pain, 128(3), 199–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2006.09.022
Nackley, Andrea Gail, Kai Soo Tan, Karamarie Fecho, Patrick Flood, Luda Diatchenko, and William Maixner. “Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibition increases pain sensitivity through activation of both beta2- and beta3-adrenergic receptors.Pain 128, no. 3 (April 2007): 199–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2006.09.022.
Nackley AG, Tan KS, Fecho K, Flood P, Diatchenko L, Maixner W. Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibition increases pain sensitivity through activation of both beta2- and beta3-adrenergic receptors. Pain. 2007 Apr;128(3):199–208.
Nackley, Andrea Gail, et al. “Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibition increases pain sensitivity through activation of both beta2- and beta3-adrenergic receptors.Pain, vol. 128, no. 3, Apr. 2007, pp. 199–208. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.pain.2006.09.022.
Nackley AG, Tan KS, Fecho K, Flood P, Diatchenko L, Maixner W. Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibition increases pain sensitivity through activation of both beta2- and beta3-adrenergic receptors. Pain. 2007 Apr;128(3):199–208.

Published In

Pain

DOI

EISSN

1872-6623

Publication Date

April 2007

Volume

128

Issue

3

Start / End Page

199 / 208

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Pain Threshold
  • Male
  • Hyperalgesia
  • Catechols
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors
  • Brain